Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Jun. 01, 2018 USD ($) item	Apr. 01, 1998 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) item payment	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($) agreement	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) agreement	Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($)	May 22, 2018 item
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Valuation allowance for slow moving inventory			$ 400
Spare parts inventory for existing rides and attractions included in prepaid expenses and other current assets			22,900
Prepaid advertising			1,800	$ 1,600
Advertising and promotions expense			69,500	68,400	$ 63,700
Amortization of debt issuance costs			$ 3,563	3,979	$ 4,061
Number of upfront payments | payment			1
Initial membership term			12 months
Number of contracts in a typical international agreement | item			1
Number of distinct promises within a typical international agreement | item			3
Allowance for doubtful accounts			$ 8,300	7,400
Valuation allowance			130,641	115,172
Accrued interest and penalties, income taxes			$ 0	$ 0
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent			21.00%	21.00%	35.00%
Right-of-use operating leases, net			$ 201,128					$ 207,400
Lease liability			198,858					$ 204,300
Excess tax benefits			(2,029)	$ (5,392)	$ (13,757)
Operating expenses			(607,791)	(574,724)	(511,873)
Selling, general and administrative expense			$ (199,194)	(132,168)	$ (159,070)
Number of parks owned or operated | item			26
Payments to acquire businesses		$ 976,000
Goodwill			$ 659,618	$ 659,618
Premier Parks, LLC
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Number of leased parks acquired | item	5		5						5
Number of parks owned or operated | item	25
Payments to acquire businesses	$ 19,100
Consideration transferred	23,000
Goodwill	$ 29,400
Interest Rate Swap
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Notional amount							$ 300,000
Second Amended and Restated Term Loan B | Interest Rate Swap
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Number of agreements | agreement						2	3
Notional amount						$ 400,000	$ 300,000
Minimum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Property, plant and equipment, useful life			20 years
Maximum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Property, plant and equipment, useful life			25 years
Rides and attractions | Minimum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Property, plant and equipment, useful life			5 years
Rides and attractions | Maximum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Property, plant and equipment, useful life			25 years
Land improvements | Minimum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Property, plant and equipment, useful life			10 years
Land improvements | Maximum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Property, plant and equipment, useful life			15 years
Buildings and improvements
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Property, plant and equipment, useful life			30 years
Furniture and Equipment | Minimum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Property, plant and equipment, useful life			5 years
Furniture and Equipment | Maximum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Property, plant and equipment, useful life			10 years