CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Theme park admissions	$ 41,532	$ 29,451
Theme park food, merchandise and other	32,832	24,617
Sponsorship, licensing and other fees	7,893	7,708
Accommodations revenue	5,264	4,582
Total revenues	87,521	66,358
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	84,219	78,572
Selling, general and administrative (including stock-based compensation of $7,097 and $17,009 in 2013 and 2012, respectively, and excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	39,698	46,229
Costs of products sold	7,925	5,727
Depreciation	31,547	36,993
Amortization	3,599	4,502
Loss on disposal of assets	1,070	1,643
Interest expense	18,722	11,594
Interest income	(325)	(231)
Equity in loss of investee		320
Other income, net	(242)	(781)
Loss from continuing operations before reorganization items, income taxes and discontinued operations	(98,692)	(118,210)
Reorganization items, net	(180)	554
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and discontinued operations	(98,512)	(118,764)
Income tax benefit	(36,399)	(3,756)
Loss from continuing operations before discontinued operations	(62,113)	(115,008)
Loss from discontinued operations		(35)
Net loss	(62,113)	(115,043)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(414)	(66)
Net loss attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	(62,527)	(115,109)
Net loss applicable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders	(62,527)	(115,109)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted (in shares)	50,964	54,593
Net loss per average common share outstanding - basic and diluted:
Loss from continuing operations applicable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (1.23)	$ (2.11)
Net loss applicable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (1.23)	$ (2.11)
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.90	$ 0.60
Amounts attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation:
Loss from continuing operations	(62,527)	(115,074)
Loss from discontinued operations		(35)
Net loss	$ (62,527)	$ (115,109)