CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Total Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	Common stock	Capital in excess of par value	Retained earnings (Accumulated deficit)	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Non-controlling interests
Balances at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 868,163	$ 863,708	$ 697	$ 818,799	$ 48,404	$ (4,192)	$ 4,455
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			55,728,218
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock	6,061	6,061	10	6,051
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			369,773
Stock-based compensation	22,702	22,702		22,702
Dividends declared to common stockholders	(6,627)	(6,627)			(6,627)
Repurchase of common stock	(41,503)	(41,503)	(15)	(17,135)	(24,353)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)			(1,165,814)
Two-for-one common stock split			682	(682)
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	231	231	0	231
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (in shares)			9,400
Fresh start valuation adjustment for SFOT units and SFOG units purchased	280	280			280
Net income attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	79,348	79,348			79,348
Net other comprehensive income	(7,668)	(7,668)				(7,668)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	285						285
Balances at Sep. 30, 2011	921,272	916,532	1,374	829,966	97,052	(11,860)	4,740
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2011			54,941,577
Balances at Dec. 31, 2011	767,148	763,478	1,366	832,112	(20,088)	(49,912)	3,670
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			54,641,885
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock	29,925	29,925	39	29,877	9
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			1,553,436
Restricted stock unit grants	31,346	31,346	(1)	31,347
Restricted stock unit grants (in shares)			(21,430)
Stock-based compensation	44,625	44,625		44,625
Dividends declared to common stockholders	(99,826)	(99,826)			(99,826)
Repurchase of common stock	(98,401)	(98,401)	(52)	(30,534)	(67,815)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	(2,100,000)		(2,077,483)
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	734	734		734
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (in shares)			12,777
Fresh start valuation adjustment for SFOT units and SFOG units purchased	453	453			453
Net income attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	210,181	210,181			210,181
Net other comprehensive income	6,790	6,790				6,790
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	719						719
Balances at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 893,694	$ 889,305	$ 1,352	$ 908,161	$ 22,914	$ (43,122)	$ 4,389
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012			54,109,185