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Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 24, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies
Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies:
Except for the changes described below, the Partnership’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the periods ended June 24, 2018 and June 25, 2017 included in this Form 10-Q report have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, which were included in the Form 10-K filed on February 23, 2018. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Form 10-K referred to above.

The Partnership adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASU 2014-09") effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. The adoption of the standard did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. The Partnership's accounting policy as a result of adopting ASU 2014-09 is discussed below:
Revenue Recognition and related receivables and contract liabilities
As disclosed within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, revenues are generated from sales of (1) admission to the Partnership's amusement parks and water parks, (2) food, merchandise and games both inside and outside the parks, and (3) accommodations, extra-charge products, and other revenue sources. Admission revenues include amounts paid to gain admission into the Partnership's parks, including parking fees. Revenues related to extra-charge products, including premium benefit offerings such as front-of-line products, and online advanced purchase transaction fees charged to customers are included in "Accommodations, extra-charge products and other". Due to the Partnership's highly seasonal operations, a substantial portion of the Partnership's revenues are generated during an approximate 130- to 140-day operating season. Most revenues are recognized on a daily basis based on actual guest spend at the properties. Revenues from multi-use products, including season-long products for admission, dining, beverage and other products, are recognized over the estimated number of uses expected for each type of product. The estimated number of uses is reviewed and may be updated periodically during the operating season prior to the ticket or product expiration, which generally occurs no later than the close of the operating season. The number of uses is estimated based on historical usage adjusted for current period trends. For any bundled products that include multiple performance obligations, revenue is allocated using the retail price of each distinct performance obligation and any inherent discounts are allocated based on the gross margin and expected redemption of each performance obligation. The Partnership does not typically provide for refunds or returns.

In some instances, the Partnership arranges with outside parties ("concessionaires") to provide goods to guests, typically food and merchandise, and the Partnership acts as an agent, resulting in net revenue recorded within the income statement. Concessionaire arrangement revenues are recognized over the operating season and are variable. Sponsorship revenues and marina revenues, which are classified as "Accommodations, extra-charge products and other" within the income statement, are recognized over the park operating season which represents the period in which the performance obligations are satisfied. Sponsorship revenues are typically fixed. However, some sponsorship revenues are variable based on achievement of specified operating metrics. The Partnership estimates variable revenues and performs a constraint analysis using both historical information and current trends to determine the amount of revenue that is not probable of a significant reversal.

Many products, including season-long products, are sold to customers in advance, resulting in a contract liability ("deferred revenue"). Deferred revenue is at its highest immediately prior to the peak summer season, and at its lowest in the fall after the peak summer season and at the beginning of the selling season for the next year's products. Season-long products represent the majority of the deferred revenue balance in any given period.

Of the $86.1 million of deferred revenue recorded as of January 1, 2018, 88% was related to season-long products. The remainder was related to deferred online advanced purchase transaction fees charged to customers, advanced ticket sales, marina deposits, advanced resort reservations, and other deferred revenue. Most deferred revenue outstanding as of January 1, 2018 will be recognized by December 31, 2018 with the exception of an immaterial amount of deferred revenue for prepaid products such as gift cards and prepaid games cards. During the six months ended June 24, 2018, approximately $35.8 million of the deferred revenue balance as of January 1, 2018 was recognized. The difference in the opening and closing balances of the Partnership's deferred revenue balance in the current period is attributable to additional sales for the current year's operating season offset by revenue recognized during the first six months of 2018.

Payment is due immediately on the transaction date for most products. The Partnership's receivable balance includes outstanding amounts on installment purchase plans which are offered for season-long products (and other select products for specific time periods), and includes sales to retailers, group sales and catering activities which are billed. Installment purchase plans include three month, four month, six month and nine month plans. Payment terms for billings are typically net 30 days. Receivables are highest in the peak summer months and the lowest in the winter months. The Partnership is not exposed to a significant concentration of customer credit risk.

Most deferred revenue from contracts with customers is classified as current within the balance sheet. However, a portion of deferred revenue from contracts with customers is classified as long-term during the third quarter related to season-long products sold in the current season for use in the subsequent season. Season-long products are sold beginning in August of the year preceding the operating season. Season-long products may be recognized 12 to 16 months after purchase depending on the date of sale. The Partnership estimates the number of uses expected outside of the next twelve months for each type of product and classifies the related deferred revenue as long-term.

With the exception of the long-term deferred revenue described above, the Partnership's contracts with customers have an original duration of one year or less. For these short-term contracts, the Partnership uses the practical expedient, a relief provided in the accounting standard to simplify compliance, applicable to such contracts and has not disclosed the transaction price for the remaining performance obligations as of the end of each reporting period or when the Company expects to recognize this revenue. Further, the Partnership has elected to recognize incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred as the amortization period of the asset would be less than one year. Lastly, the Partnership has elected not to adjust consideration for the effects of significant financing components in the form of installment purchase plans as the period between when the entity transfers the promised service to the customer and when the customer pays for that service does not exceed one year.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year prepaid supplies amounts of $1.0 million have been reclassified to inventory in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet for the period ended June 25, 2017 to conform to fiscal 2018 presentation.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases ("ASU 2016-02"). The ASU requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities within the balance sheet by lessees for operating leases, as well as requires additional disclosures in the consolidated financial statements regarding the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The ASU does not significantly change the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee, nor does the ASU change the accounting applied by a lessor. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The ASU can be adopted using either the modified retrospective approach, which requires application of the new standard at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented, or the alternative approach, which requires application of the new standard at the beginning of the standard's effective date. The Partnership expects to adopt this standard in the first quarter of 2019 using the alternative approach. While the Partnership is still in the process of evaluating the effect this standard will have on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, the Partnership anticipates recognizing a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability on the consolidated balance sheet for the Santa Clara land lease, as well as other operating leases, upon adoption.
In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Comprehensive Income ("ASU 2018-02"). The ASU allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings of stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. ASU 2018-02 is effective for fiscal years after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period, and the amendments can be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recognized. The Partnership elected to adopt ASU 2018-02 in the first quarter of 2018. The amendment was applied in the period of adoption and resulted in a $0.4 million reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to limited partners' equity during the first quarter ended March 25, 2018.