Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2022	Oct. 03, 2021	Oct. 02, 2022	Oct. 03, 2021
Total revenues	$ 504,831	$ 638,284	$ 1,078,360	$ 1,180,095
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	181,162	228,119	464,688	504,530
Selling, general and administrative expenses	38,234	64,356	131,139	150,687
Costs of products sold	40,164	54,100	85,989	100,509
Other net periodic pension benefit	(1,480)	(76)	(4,851)	(3,409)
Depreciation	30,181	28,047	86,756	84,921
Amortization	5	6	16	17
Loss on disposal of assets	5,038	624	3,036	1,863
Interest expense	34,580	38,224	108,687	114,797
Interest income	(383)	(129)	(982)	(234)
Loss on debt extinguishment			17,533
Other expense, net	521	346	1,882	8,796
Income before income taxes	176,809	224,667	184,467	217,618
Income tax expense	38,654	46,543	44,257	43,930
Net income	138,155	178,124	140,210	173,688
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(22,326)	(20,883)	(44,651)	(41,766)
Net income attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	$ 115,829	$ 157,241	$ 95,559	$ 131,922
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	83,094	85,919	84,760	85,596
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	83,107	87,259	84,919	87,078
Earnings per average common share outstanding: - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.39	$ 1.83	$ 1.13	$ 1.54
Earnings per average common share outstanding: - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.39	$ 1.80	$ 1.13	$ 1.51
Park admissions
Total revenues	$ 280,502	$ 345,217	$ 595,266	$ 634,716
Park food, merchandise and other
Total revenues	209,099	280,499	446,449	510,620
Sponsorship, international agreements and accommodations
Total revenues	$ 15,230	$ 12,568	$ 36,645	$ 34,759