Consolidating Financial Information of Guarantors and Issuers Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 24, 2018	Jun. 25, 2017	Jun. 24, 2018	Jun. 25, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 380,316	$ 392,798	$ 435,043	$ 441,116
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	35,018	34,249	41,021	39,729
Operating expenses	167,417	160,380	256,245	244,669
Selling, general and administrative	54,041	51,860	82,723	79,479
Depreciation and amortization	52,219	50,812	57,740	56,177
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	3,372	184	4,712	1,710
Total costs and expenses	312,067	297,485	442,441	421,764
Operating income (loss)	68,249	95,313	(7,398)	19,352
Interest expense (income), net	21,282	21,904	40,818	40,786
Net effect of swaps	(906)	4,368	(4,534)	4,669
Loss on early debt extinguishment	0	23,115	1,073	23,115	$ 23,100
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	14,984	(3,183)	25,078	(5,854)
Other (income) expense	(84)	0	(207)	0
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before taxes	32,973	49,109	(69,626)	(43,364)
Provision for taxes	13,730	17,741	(5,469)	(9,978)
Net income (loss)	19,243	31,368	(64,157)	(33,386)
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	6,662	(1,282)	11,266	(1,942)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedging derivatives	2,116	1,993	4,134	3,987
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax)	8,778	711	15,400	2,045
Total comprehensive income (loss)	28,021	32,079	(48,757)	(31,341)
June 2014 Notes [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	380,316	392,798	435,043	441,116
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	35,018	34,249	41,021	39,729
Operating expenses	167,417	160,380	256,245	244,669
Selling, general and administrative	54,041	51,860	82,723	79,479
Depreciation and amortization	52,219	50,812	57,740	56,177
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	3,372	184	4,712	1,710
Total costs and expenses	312,067	297,485	442,441	421,764
Operating income (loss)	68,249	95,313	(7,398)	19,352
Interest expense (income), net	21,282	21,904	40,818	40,786
Net effect of swaps	(906)	4,368	(4,534)	4,669
Loss on early debt extinguishment		23,115	1,073	23,115
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	14,984	(3,183)	25,078	(5,854)
Other (income) expense	(84)	0	(207)	0
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before taxes	32,973	49,109	(69,626)	(43,364)
Provision for taxes	13,730	17,741	(5,469)	(9,978)
Net income (loss)	19,243	31,368	(64,157)	(33,386)
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	6,662	(1,282)	11,266	(1,942)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedging derivatives	2,116	1,993	4,134	3,987
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax)	8,778	711	15,400	2,045
Total comprehensive income (loss)	28,021	32,079	(48,757)	(31,341)
June 2014 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	23,937	28,811	13,170	22,673
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	926	1,033	1,685	1,927
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	926	1,033	1,685	1,927
Operating income (loss)	23,011	27,778	11,485	20,746
Interest expense (income), net	5,736	5,259	10,640	13,428
Net effect of swaps	(324)	2,590	(2,531)	2,740
Loss on early debt extinguishment		11,773	0	11,773
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense	64	63	123	125
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(4,198)	(24,802)	64,330	23,864
Income (loss) before taxes	21,733	32,895	(61,077)	(31,184)
Provision for taxes	2,490	1,527	3,080	2,202
Net income (loss)	19,243	31,368	(64,157)	(33,386)
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	6,662	(1,282)	11,266	(1,942)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedging derivatives	2,116	1,993	4,134	3,987
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax)	8,778	711	15,400	2,045
Total comprehensive income (loss)	28,021	32,079	(48,757)	(31,341)
June 2014 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	360,832	377,266	410,619	422,562
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	31,834	31,415	37,837	36,895
Operating expenses	185,755	193,474	211,614	222,769
Selling, general and administrative	33,921	32,409	46,714	43,893
Depreciation and amortization	46,271	45,792	51,784	51,147
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	3,345	174	4,645	1,255
Total costs and expenses	301,126	303,264	352,594	355,959
Operating income (loss)	59,706	74,002	58,025	66,603
Interest expense (income), net	4,886	6,105	9,568	5,605
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment		2,956	886	2,956
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense	21,671	13,800	30,439	28,345
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	13,602	(11,367)	34,187	(270)
Income (loss) before taxes	19,547	62,508	(17,055)	29,967
Provision for taxes	8,037	19,127	4,161	11,528
Net income (loss)	11,510	43,381	(21,216)	18,439
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedging derivatives	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax)	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	11,510	43,381	(21,216)	18,439
June 2014 Notes [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	(125,628)	(134,705)	(111,046)	(125,607)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	(125,628)	(134,705)	(111,046)	(125,607)
Selling, general and administrative	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	(125,628)	(134,705)	(111,046)	(125,607)
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Interest expense (income), net	0	0	0	0
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment		0	0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense	0	0	0	0
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	2,109	79,555	(119,732)	(5,156)
Income (loss) before taxes	(2,109)	(79,555)	119,732	5,156
Provision for taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(2,109)	(79,555)	119,732	5,156
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(6,662)	1,282	(11,266)	1,942
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedging derivatives	(727)	(606)	(1,357)	(1,211)
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax)	(7,389)	676	(12,623)	731
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(9,498)	(78,879)	107,109	5,887
April 2017 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	23,937	28,811	13,170	22,673
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	926	1,033	1,685	1,927
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	926	1,033	1,685	1,927
Operating income (loss)	23,011	27,778	11,485	20,746
Interest expense (income), net	5,736	5,259	10,640	13,428
Net effect of swaps	(324)	2,590	(2,531)	2,740
Loss on early debt extinguishment		11,773	0	11,773
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense	64	63	123	125
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(4,198)	(24,802)	64,330	23,864
Income (loss) before taxes	21,733	32,895	(61,077)	(31,184)
Provision for taxes	2,490	1,527	3,080	2,202
Net income (loss)	19,243	31,368	(64,157)	(33,386)
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	6,662	(1,282)	11,266	(1,942)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedging derivatives	2,116	1,993	4,134	3,987
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax)	8,778	711	15,400	2,045
Total comprehensive income (loss)	28,021	32,079	(48,757)	(31,341)
April 2017 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	118,781	129,395	120,487	133,177
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	6,239	6,492	6,343	6,659
Operating expenses	10,972	11,784	19,861	20,225
Selling, general and administrative	6,570	6,225	7,720	6,816
Depreciation and amortization	46,271	45,792	51,784	51,147
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	2,550	(103)	3,199	482
Total costs and expenses	72,602	70,190	88,907	85,329
Operating income (loss)	46,179	59,205	31,580	47,848
Interest expense (income), net	(8,160)	(5,053)	(15,031)	(8,975)
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment		0	0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense	21,671	13,800	30,439	28,345
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	13,602	(11,367)	34,187	(270)
Income (loss) before taxes	19,066	61,825	(18,015)	28,748
Provision for taxes	7,556	18,444	3,201	10,309
Net income (loss)	11,510	43,381	(21,216)	18,439
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedging derivatives	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax)	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	11,510	43,381	(21,216)	18,439
April 2017 Notes [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	(162,710)	(171,063)	(153,778)	(167,429)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	(162,710)	(171,063)	(153,778)	(167,429)
Selling, general and administrative	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	(162,710)	(171,063)	(153,778)	(167,429)
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Interest expense (income), net	0	0	0	0
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment		0	0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense	0	0	0	0
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	2,109	79,555	(119,732)	(5,156)
Income (loss) before taxes	(2,109)	(79,555)	119,732	5,156
Provision for taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(2,109)	(79,555)	119,732	5,156
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(6,662)	1,282	(11,266)	1,942
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedging derivatives	(727)	(606)	(1,357)	(1,211)
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax)	(7,389)	676	(12,623)	731
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(9,498)	(78,879)	107,109	5,887
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum) [Member] | June 2014 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	91,527	93,601	92,381	93,310
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	93,036	88,841	135,707	129,433
Selling, general and administrative	15,638	15,111	30,088	29,606
Depreciation and amortization	8	9	16	17
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	108,682	103,961	165,811	159,056
Operating income (loss)	(17,155)	(10,360)	(73,430)	(65,746)
Interest expense (income), net	4,592	4,280	8,959	9,588
Net effect of swaps	(582)	1,778	(2,003)	1,929
Loss on early debt extinguishment		8,188	187	8,188
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	62	0	21	0
Other (income) expense	(22,751)	(14,683)	(32,555)	(29,947)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(2,531)	(31,496)	26,284	(10,892)
Income (loss) before taxes	4,055	21,573	(74,323)	(44,612)
Provision for taxes	(143)	(3,230)	(9,994)	(20,749)
Net income (loss)	4,198	24,803	(64,329)	(23,863)
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedging derivatives	727	606	1,357	1,211
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax)	727	606	1,357	1,211
Total comprehensive income (loss)	4,925	25,409	(62,972)	(22,652)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum) [Member] | April 2017 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	91,527	93,601	92,381	93,310
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	93,036	88,841	135,707	129,433
Selling, general and administrative	15,638	15,111	30,088	29,606
Depreciation and amortization	8	9	16	17
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	108,682	103,961	165,811	159,056
Operating income (loss)	(17,155)	(10,360)	(73,430)	(65,746)
Interest expense (income), net	4,592	4,280	8,959	9,588
Net effect of swaps	(582)	1,778	(2,003)	1,929
Loss on early debt extinguishment		8,188	187	8,188
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	62	0	21	0
Other (income) expense	(22,751)	(14,683)	(32,555)	(29,947)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(2,531)	(31,496)	26,284	(10,892)
Income (loss) before taxes	4,055	21,573	(74,323)	(44,612)
Provision for taxes	(143)	(3,230)	(9,994)	(20,749)
Net income (loss)	4,198	24,803	(64,329)	(23,863)
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedging derivatives	727	606	1,357	1,211
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax)	727	606	1,357	1,211
Total comprehensive income (loss)	4,925	25,409	(62,972)	(22,652)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada) [Member] | June 2014 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	29,648	27,825	29,919	28,178
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	3,184	2,834	3,184	2,834
Operating expenses	14,254	12,770	19,970	18,074
Selling, general and administrative	3,556	3,307	4,236	4,053
Depreciation and amortization	5,940	5,011	5,940	5,013
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	27	10	67	455
Total costs and expenses	26,961	23,932	33,397	30,429
Operating income (loss)	2,687	3,893	(3,478)	(2,251)
Interest expense (income), net	6,068	6,260	11,651	12,165
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment		198	0	198
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	14,922	(3,183)	25,057	(5,854)
Other (income) expense	932	820	1,786	1,477
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(8,982)	(11,890)	(5,069)	(7,546)
Income (loss) before taxes	(10,253)	11,688	(36,903)	(2,691)
Provision for taxes	3,346	317	(2,716)	(2,959)
Net income (loss)	(13,599)	11,371	(34,187)	268
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	6,662	(1,282)	11,266	(1,942)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedging derivatives	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax)	6,662	(1,282)	11,266	(1,942)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(6,937)	10,089	(22,921)	(1,674)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada) [Member] | April 2017 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	29,648	27,825	29,919	28,178
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	3,184	2,834	3,184	2,834
Operating expenses	14,254	12,770	19,970	18,074
Selling, general and administrative	3,556	3,307	4,236	4,053
Depreciation and amortization	5,940	5,011	5,940	5,013
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	27	10	67	455
Total costs and expenses	26,961	23,932	33,397	30,429
Operating income (loss)	2,687	3,893	(3,478)	(2,251)
Interest expense (income), net	6,068	6,260	11,651	12,165
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment		198	0	198
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	14,922	(3,183)	25,057	(5,854)
Other (income) expense	932	820	1,786	1,477
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(8,982)	(11,890)	(5,069)	(7,546)
Income (loss) before taxes	(10,253)	11,688	(36,903)	(2,691)
Provision for taxes	3,346	317	(2,716)	(2,959)
Net income (loss)	(13,599)	11,371	(34,187)	268
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	6,662	(1,282)	11,266	(1,942)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedging derivatives	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax)	6,662	(1,282)	11,266	(1,942)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(6,937)	10,089	(22,921)	(1,674)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Millennium) [Member] | April 2017 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	279,133	284,229	332,864	331,207
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	25,595	24,923	31,494	30,236
Operating expenses	211,865	218,048	234,485	244,366
Selling, general and administrative	27,351	26,184	38,994	37,077
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	795	277	1,446	773
Total costs and expenses	265,606	269,432	306,419	312,452
Operating income (loss)	13,527	14,797	26,445	18,755
Interest expense (income), net	13,046	11,158	24,599	14,580
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment		2,956	886	2,956
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense	0	0	0	0
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before taxes	481	683	960	1,219
Provision for taxes	481	683	960	1,219
Net income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedging derivatives	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income, (net of tax)	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0