-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PGaa00Mf4ECT3ogQVK0qKABbjLWgTXI1amaVrjYlLjVTwZ8nH5TX39gB1T4u/kox
 /D894sdP8z/N+4M6tY1WuQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000811532-04-000017.txt : 20040405
<SEC-HEADER>0000811532-04-000017.hdr.sgml : 20040405
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040405160519
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000811532-04-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040402
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040405

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CEDAR FAIR L P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000811532
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISCELLANEOUS AMUSEMENT & RECREATION [7990]
		IRS NUMBER:				341560655
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 5006
		CITY:			SANDUSKY
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44871
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4196260830

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KWIATKOWSKI MICHAEL D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001171910

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09444
		FILM NUMBER:		04717636

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CEDAR POINT DR.
		STREET 2:		C/O CEDAR FAIR LP
		CITY:			STANDUSKY
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44870-5259
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4196260830

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CEDAR POINT DR.
		STREET 2:		C/O CEDAR FAIR LP
		CITY:			SANDUSKY
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44870-5259
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000811532</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CEDAR FAIR L P</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>fun</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001171910</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KWIATKOWSKI MICHAEL D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE CEDAR POINT DR.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>C/O CEDAR FAIR LP</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANDUSKY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44870-5259</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Units of Limited Partner Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.6</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2031</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Call options to purchase limited partnership units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.6</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.6</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-03-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Units of limited partner interest</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options began vesting at an equal rate over a five-year period (20% per year) commencing one year following the date of grant (March 7 , 2001).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael D. Kwiatowski</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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