Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Oct. 31, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 25, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	CEDAR FAIR L P
Entity Central Index Key	0000811532
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		56,160,377