Consolidating Financial Information of Guarantors and Issuers Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 23, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Sep. 23, 2018	Sep. 24, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 663,703	$ 652,689	$ 1,098,746	$ 1,093,805
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	53,891	52,647	94,912	92,376
Operating expenses	206,505	202,710	462,750	447,379
Selling, general and administrative	67,114	71,663	149,837	151,142
Depreciation and amortization	74,374	70,060	132,114	126,237
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	3,247	1,347	7,959	3,057
Gain on sale of investment	0	(1,877)	0	(1,877)
Total costs and expenses	405,131	396,550	847,572	818,314
Operating income	258,572	256,139	251,174	275,491
Interest (income) expense, net	20,934	21,287	61,752	62,073
Net effect of swaps	(1,217)	(952)	(5,751)	3,717
Loss on early debt extinguishment	0	0	1,073	23,115	$ 23,100
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	(13,054)	(29,193)	12,024	(35,047)
Other (income) expense	(168)	(65)	(375)	(65)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income before taxes	252,077	265,062	182,451	221,698
Provision for taxes	38,770	73,747	33,301	63,769
Net income	213,307	191,315	149,150	157,929
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(5,276)	(11,143)	5,990	(13,085)
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives	2,116	1,994	6,250	5,981
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	(3,160)	(9,149)	12,240	(7,104)
Total comprehensive income	210,147	182,166	161,390	150,825
June 2014 Notes [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	663,703	652,689	1,098,746	1,093,805
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	53,891	52,647	94,912	92,376
Operating expenses	206,505	202,710	462,750	447,379
Selling, general and administrative	67,114	71,663	149,837	151,142
Depreciation and amortization	74,374	70,060	132,114	126,237
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	3,247	1,347	7,959	3,057
Gain on sale of investment		(1,877)		(1,877)
Total costs and expenses	405,131	396,550	847,572	818,314
Operating income	258,572	256,139	251,174	275,491
Interest (income) expense, net	20,934	21,287	61,752	62,073
Net effect of swaps	(1,217)	(952)	(5,751)	3,717
Loss on early debt extinguishment			1,073	23,115
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	(13,054)	(29,193)	12,024	(35,047)
Other (income) expense	(168)	(65)	(375)	(65)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income before taxes	252,077	265,062	182,451	221,698
Provision for taxes	38,770	73,747	33,301	63,769
Net income	213,307	191,315	149,150	157,929
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(5,276)	(11,143)	5,990	(13,085)
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives	2,116	1,994	6,250	5,981
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	(3,160)	(9,149)	12,240	(7,104)
Total comprehensive income	210,147	182,166	161,390	150,825
June 2014 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	71,751	69,999	84,921	92,672
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	185	327	1,870	2,254
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of investment		0		0
Total costs and expenses	185	327	1,870	2,254
Operating income	71,566	69,672	83,051	90,418
Interest (income) expense, net	5,879	4,857	16,519	18,285
Net effect of swaps	265	(578)	(2,266)	2,162
Loss on early debt extinguishment			0	11,773
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense	63	62	186	187
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(153,756)	(132,699)	(89,426)	(108,835)
Income before taxes	219,115	198,030	158,038	166,846
Provision for taxes	5,808	6,715	8,888	8,917
Net income	213,307	191,315	149,150	157,929
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(5,276)	(11,143)	5,990	(13,085)
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives	2,116	1,994	6,250	5,981
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	(3,160)	(9,149)	12,240	(7,104)
Total comprehensive income	210,147	182,166	161,390	150,825
June 2014 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	613,094	596,837	1,023,713	1,019,399
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	46,871	44,912	84,708	81,807
Operating expenses	349,145	334,008	560,759	556,777
Selling, general and administrative	41,681	45,045	88,395	88,938
Depreciation and amortization	65,987	62,195	117,771	113,342
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	3,247	1,260	7,892	2,515
Gain on sale of investment		0		0
Total costs and expenses	506,931	487,420	859,525	843,379
Operating income	106,163	109,417	164,188	176,020
Interest (income) expense, net	4,997	5,973	14,565	11,578
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment			886	2,956
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense	27,134	25,386	57,573	53,731
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(56,985)	(58,378)	(22,798)	(58,648)
Income before taxes	131,017	136,436	113,962	166,403
Provision for taxes	13,878	21,074	18,039	32,602
Net income	117,139	115,362	95,923	133,801
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	117,139	115,362	95,923	133,801
June 2014 Notes [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	(285,240)	(269,539)	(396,286)	(395,146)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	(285,240)	(269,539)	(396,286)	(395,146)
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
Gain on sale of investment		0		0
Total costs and expenses	(285,240)	(269,539)	(396,286)	(395,146)
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest (income) expense, net	0	0	0	0
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment			0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense	0	0	0	0
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	327,879	306,442	208,147	301,286
Income before taxes	(327,879)	(306,442)	(208,147)	(301,286)
Provision for taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	(327,879)	(306,442)	(208,147)	(301,286)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	5,276	11,143	(5,990)	13,085
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives	(728)	(605)	(2,085)	(1,816)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	4,548	10,538	(8,075)	11,269
Total comprehensive income	(323,331)	(295,904)	(216,222)	(290,017)
April 2017 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	71,751	69,999	84,921	92,672
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	185	327	1,870	2,254
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of investment		0		0
Total costs and expenses	185	327	1,870	2,254
Operating income	71,566	69,672	83,051	90,418
Interest (income) expense, net	5,879	4,857	16,519	18,285
Net effect of swaps	265	(578)	(2,266)	2,162
Loss on early debt extinguishment			0	11,773
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense	63	62	186	187
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(153,756)	(132,699)	(89,426)	(108,835)
Income before taxes	219,115	198,030	158,038	166,846
Provision for taxes	5,808	6,715	8,888	8,917
Net income	213,307	191,315	149,150	157,929
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(5,276)	(11,143)	5,990	(13,085)
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives	2,116	1,994	6,250	5,981
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	(3,160)	(9,149)	12,240	(7,104)
Total comprehensive income	210,147	182,166	161,390	150,825
April 2017 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	189,672	189,586	310,159	322,763
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	8,737	8,611	15,080	15,270
Operating expenses	12,276	12,519	32,137	32,744
Selling, general and administrative	7,103	9,024	14,823	15,840
Depreciation and amortization	65,987	62,195	117,771	113,342
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	2,825	522	6,024	1,004
Gain on sale of investment		0		0
Total costs and expenses	96,928	92,871	185,835	178,200
Operating income	92,744	96,715	124,324	144,563
Interest (income) expense, net	(7,943)	(6,194)	(22,974)	(15,169)
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment			0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense	27,134	25,386	57,573	53,731
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(56,985)	(58,378)	(22,798)	(58,648)
Income before taxes	130,538	135,901	112,523	164,649
Provision for taxes	13,399	20,539	16,600	30,848
Net income	117,139	115,362	95,923	133,801
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	117,139	115,362	95,923	133,801
April 2017 Notes [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	(336,529)	(319,818)	(490,307)	(487,247)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	(336,529)	(319,818)	(490,307)	(487,247)
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
Gain on sale of investment		0		0
Total costs and expenses	(336,529)	(319,818)	(490,307)	(487,247)
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest (income) expense, net	0	0	0	0
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment			0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense	0	0	0	0
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	327,879	306,442	208,147	301,286
Income before taxes	(327,879)	(306,442)	(208,147)	(301,286)
Provision for taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	(327,879)	(306,442)	(208,147)	(301,286)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	5,276	11,143	(5,990)	13,085
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives	(728)	(605)	(2,085)	(1,816)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	4,548	10,538	(8,075)	11,269
Total comprehensive income	(323,331)	(295,904)	(216,222)	(290,017)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum) [Member] | June 2014 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	182,833	169,429	275,214	262,739
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	122,455	118,614	258,162	248,047
Selling, general and administrative	20,666	21,752	50,754	51,358
Depreciation and amortization	8	9	24	26
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of investment		(1,877)		(1,877)
Total costs and expenses	143,129	138,498	308,940	297,554
Operating income	39,704	30,931	(33,726)	(34,815)
Interest (income) expense, net	4,072	4,305	13,031	13,893
Net effect of swaps	(1,482)	(374)	(3,485)	1,555
Loss on early debt extinguishment			187	8,188
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	15	(27)	36	(27)
Other (income) expense	(28,849)	(26,676)	(61,404)	(56,623)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(100,629)	(98,522)	(74,345)	(109,414)
Income before taxes	166,577	152,225	92,254	107,613
Provision for taxes	12,823	19,526	2,829	(1,223)
Net income	153,754	132,699	89,425	108,836
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives	728	605	2,085	1,816
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	728	605	2,085	1,816
Total comprehensive income	154,482	133,304	91,510	110,652
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum) [Member] | April 2017 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	182,833	169,429	275,214	262,739
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	122,455	118,614	258,162	248,047
Selling, general and administrative	20,666	21,752	50,754	51,358
Depreciation and amortization	8	9	24	26
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of investment		(1,877)		(1,877)
Total costs and expenses	143,129	138,498	308,940	297,554
Operating income	39,704	30,931	(33,726)	(34,815)
Interest (income) expense, net	4,072	4,305	13,031	13,893
Net effect of swaps	(1,482)	(374)	(3,485)	1,555
Loss on early debt extinguishment			187	8,188
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	15	(27)	36	(27)
Other (income) expense	(28,849)	(26,676)	(61,404)	(56,623)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(100,629)	(98,522)	(74,345)	(109,414)
Income before taxes	166,577	152,225	92,254	107,613
Provision for taxes	12,823	19,526	2,829	(1,223)
Net income	153,754	132,699	89,425	108,836
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives	728	605	2,085	1,816
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	728	605	2,085	1,816
Total comprehensive income	154,482	133,304	91,510	110,652
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	81,265	85,963	111,184	114,141
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	7,020	7,735	10,204	10,569
Operating expenses	20,145	19,627	40,115	37,701
Selling, general and administrative	4,582	4,539	8,818	8,592
Depreciation and amortization	8,379	7,856	14,319	12,869
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	87	67	542
Gain on sale of investment		0		0
Total costs and expenses	40,126	39,844	73,523	70,273
Operating income	41,139	46,119	37,661	43,868
Interest (income) expense, net	5,986	6,152	17,637	18,317
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment			0	198
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	(13,069)	(29,166)	11,988	(35,020)
Other (income) expense	1,484	1,163	3,270	2,640
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(16,509)	(16,843)	(21,578)	(24,389)
Income before taxes	63,247	84,813	26,344	82,122
Provision for taxes	6,261	26,432	3,545	23,473
Net income	56,986	58,381	22,799	58,649
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(5,276)	(11,143)	5,990	(13,085)
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	(5,276)	(11,143)	5,990	(13,085)
Total comprehensive income	51,710	47,238	28,789	45,564
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	81,265	85,963	111,184	114,141
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	7,020	7,735	10,204	10,569
Operating expenses	20,145	19,627	40,115	37,701
Selling, general and administrative	4,582	4,539	8,818	8,592
Depreciation and amortization	8,379	7,856	14,319	12,869
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	87	67	542
Gain on sale of investment		0		0
Total costs and expenses	40,126	39,844	73,523	70,273
Operating income	41,139	46,119	37,661	43,868
Interest (income) expense, net	5,986	6,152	17,637	18,317
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment			0	198
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	(13,069)	(29,166)	11,988	(35,020)
Other (income) expense	1,484	1,163	3,270	2,640
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(16,509)	(16,843)	(21,578)	(24,389)
Income before taxes	63,247	84,813	26,344	82,122
Provision for taxes	6,261	26,432	3,545	23,473
Net income	56,986	58,381	22,799	58,649
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(5,276)	(11,143)	5,990	(13,085)
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	(5,276)	(11,143)	5,990	(13,085)
Total comprehensive income	51,710	47,238	28,789	45,564
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Millennium) [Member] | April 2017 Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	474,711	457,530	807,575	788,737
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	38,134	36,301	69,628	66,537
Operating expenses	388,158	371,768	622,643	616,134
Selling, general and administrative	34,578	36,021	73,572	73,098
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	422	738	1,868	1,511
Gain on sale of investment		0		0
Total costs and expenses	461,292	444,828	767,711	757,280
Operating income	13,419	12,702	39,864	31,457
Interest (income) expense, net	12,940	12,167	37,539	26,747
Net effect of swaps	0	0	0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment			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 before taxes	479	535	1,439	1,754
Provision for taxes	479	535	1,439	1,754
Net income	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0