Consolidating Financial Information of Guarantors and Issuers (Income Statement) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 24, 2018	Mar. 25, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 24, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 436,190	$ 380,316		$ 503,167	$ 435,043
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	39,808	35,018		47,457	41,021
Operating expenses	177,771	167,417		275,976	256,245
Selling, general and administrative	59,781	54,041		91,447	82,723
Depreciation and amortization	55,904	52,219		69,493	57,740
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	682	3,372		2,106	4,712
Gain on sale of investment	0	0		(617)	0
Total costs and expenses	333,946	312,067		485,862	442,441
Operating income (loss)	102,244	68,249		17,305	(7,398)
Interest (income) expense, net	22,846	21,282		43,533	40,818
Net effect of swaps	10,779	(906)		17,158	(4,534)
Loss on early debt extinguishment	0	0	$ (1,100)	0	1,073	$ 23,100
(Gain) loss on foreign currency	(9,472)	14,984		(18,141)	25,078
Other (income) expense	117	(84)		439	(207)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	0	0		0	0
Income (loss) before taxes	77,974	32,973		(25,684)	(69,626)
Provision for taxes	14,676	13,730		(5,309)	(5,469)
Net income (loss)	63,298	19,243		(20,375)	(64,157)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(4,632)	6,662		(7,682)	11,266
Cash flow hedging derivative activity	0			0
Cash flow hedging derivative activity		2,116			4,134
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	(4,632)	8,778		(7,682)	15,400
Total comprehensive income (loss)	58,666	28,021		(28,057)	(48,757)
2024 U.S. fixed rate notes at 5.375%[Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	30,240	23,937		14,598	13,170
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0		0	0
Operating expenses	2	0		2	0
Selling, general and administrative	186	926		1,625	1,685
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
Total costs and expenses	188	926		1,627	1,685
Operating income (loss)	30,052	23,011		12,971	11,485
Interest (income) expense, net	6,673	5,736		13,064	10,640
Net effect of swaps	2,126	(324)		3,117	(2,531)
Loss on early debt extinguishment					0
(Gain) loss on foreign currency	0	0		0	0
Other (income) expense	64	64		123	123
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(45,594)	(4,198)		12,855	64,330
Income (loss) before taxes	66,783	21,733		(16,188)	(61,077)
Provision for taxes	3,485	2,490		4,187	3,080
Net income (loss)	63,298	19,243		(20,375)	(64,157)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(4,632)	6,662		(7,682)	11,266
Cash flow hedging derivative activity		2,116			4,134
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	(4,632)	8,778		(7,682)	15,400
Total comprehensive income (loss)	58,666	28,021		(28,057)	(48,757)
2024 U.S. fixed rate notes at 5.375%[Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	410,780	360,832		470,685	410,619
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	35,883	31,834		43,480	37,837
Operating expenses	211,577	185,755		236,766	211,614
Selling, general and administrative	39,748	33,921		54,405	46,714
Depreciation and amortization	50,214	46,271		63,795	51,784
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	657	3,345		2,071	4,645
Gain on sale of investment				0
Total costs and expenses	338,079	301,126		400,517	352,594
Operating income (loss)	72,701	59,706		70,168	58,025
Interest (income) expense, net	5,132	4,886		8,685	9,568
Net effect of swaps	0	0		0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment					886
(Gain) loss on foreign currency	0	0		0	0
Other (income) expense	23,592	21,671		34,262	30,439
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(23,567)	13,602		(17,377)	34,187
Income (loss) before taxes	67,544	19,547		44,598	(17,055)
Provision for taxes	11,037	8,037		7,348	4,161
Net income (loss)	56,507	11,510		37,250	(21,216)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0		0	0
Cash flow hedging derivative activity		0			0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	0	0		0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	56,507	11,510		37,250	(21,216)
2024 U.S. fixed rate notes at 5.375%[Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	(151,015)	(125,628)		(131,882)	(111,046)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0		0	0
Operating expenses	(151,015)	(125,628)		(131,882)	(111,046)
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
Total costs and expenses	(151,015)	(125,628)		(131,882)	(111,046)
Operating income (loss)	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
(Gain) loss on foreign currency	0	0		0	0
Other (income) expense	0	0		0	0
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	125,673	2,109		41,772	(119,732)
Income (loss) before taxes	(125,673)	(2,109)		(41,772)	119,732
Provision for taxes	0	0		0	0
Net income (loss)	(125,673)	(2,109)		(41,772)	119,732
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	4,632	(6,662)		7,682	(11,266)
Cash flow hedging derivative activity		(727)			(1,357)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	4,632	(7,389)		7,682	(12,623)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(121,041)	(9,498)		(34,090)	107,109
2027 and 2029 Senior Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	30,240	23,937		14,598	13,170
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0		0	0
Operating expenses	2	0		2	0
Selling, general and administrative	186	926		1,625	1,685
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
Total costs and expenses	188	926		1,627	1,685
Operating income (loss)	30,052	23,011		12,971	11,485
Interest (income) expense, net	6,673	5,736		13,064	10,640
Net effect of swaps	2,126	(324)		3,117	(2,531)
Loss on early debt extinguishment					0
(Gain) loss on foreign currency	0	0		0	0
Other (income) expense	64	64		123	123
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(45,594)	(4,198)		12,855	64,330
Income (loss) before taxes	66,783	21,733		(16,188)	(61,077)
Provision for taxes	3,485	2,490		4,187	3,080
Net income (loss)	63,298	19,243		(20,375)	(64,157)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(4,632)	6,662		(7,682)	11,266
Cash flow hedging derivative activity		2,116			4,134
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	(4,632)	8,778		(7,682)	15,400
Total comprehensive income (loss)	58,666	28,021		(28,057)	(48,757)
2027 and 2029 Senior Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	132,511	118,781		141,228	120,487
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	6,794	6,239		7,150	6,343
Operating expenses	10,940	10,972		19,977	19,861
Selling, general and administrative	7,249	6,570		8,344	7,720
Depreciation and amortization	50,214	46,271		63,795	51,784
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	250	2,550		1,278	3,199
Gain on sale of investment				0
Total costs and expenses	75,447	72,602		100,544	88,907
Operating income (loss)	57,064	46,179		40,684	31,580
Interest (income) expense, net	(10,033)	(8,160)		(19,864)	(15,031)
Net effect of swaps	0	0		0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment					0
(Gain) loss on foreign currency	0	0		0	0
Other (income) expense	23,592	21,671		34,262	30,439
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(23,567)	13,602		(17,377)	34,187
Income (loss) before taxes	67,072	19,066		43,663	(18,015)
Provision for taxes	10,565	7,556		6,413	3,201
Net income (loss)	56,507	11,510		37,250	(21,216)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0		0	0
Cash flow hedging derivative activity		0			0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	0	0		0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	56,507	11,510		37,250	(21,216)
2027 and 2029 Senior Notes [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	(188,944)	(162,710)		(183,210)	(153,778)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0		0	0
Operating expenses	(188,944)	(162,710)		(183,210)	(153,778)
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
Total costs and expenses	(188,944)	(162,710)		(183,210)	(153,778)
Operating income (loss)	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
(Gain) loss on foreign currency	0	0		0	0
Other (income) expense	0	0		0	0
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	125,673	2,109		41,772	(119,732)
Income (loss) before taxes	(125,673)	(2,109)		(41,772)	119,732
Provision for taxes	0	0		0	0
Net income (loss)	(125,673)	(2,109)		(41,772)	119,732
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	4,632	(6,662)		7,682	(11,266)
Cash flow hedging derivative activity		(727)			(1,357)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	4,632	(7,389)		7,682	(12,623)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(121,041)	(9,498)		(34,090)	107,109
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum) [Member] | 2024 U.S. fixed rate notes at 5.375%[Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	107,811	91,527		111,096	92,381
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	51	0		51	0
Operating expenses	102,173	93,036		150,345	135,707
Selling, general and administrative	16,000	15,638		30,552	30,088
Depreciation and amortization	8	8		16	16
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0		0	0
Gain on sale of investment				(617)
Total costs and expenses	118,232	108,682		180,347	165,811
Operating income (loss)	(10,421)	(17,155)		(69,251)	(73,430)
Interest (income) expense, net	4,996	4,592		10,026	8,959
Net effect of swaps	8,653	(582)		14,041	(2,003)
Loss on early debt extinguishment					187
(Gain) loss on foreign currency	12	62		1	21
Other (income) expense	(24,465)	(22,751)		(35,971)	(32,555)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(45,111)	(2,531)		(30,452)	26,284
Income (loss) before taxes	45,494	4,055		(26,896)	(74,323)
Provision for taxes	(102)	(143)		(14,041)	(9,994)
Net income (loss)	45,596	4,198		(12,855)	(64,329)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0		0	0
Cash flow hedging derivative activity		727			1,357
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	0	727		0	1,357
Total comprehensive income (loss)	45,596	4,925		(12,855)	(62,972)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum) [Member] | 2027 and 2029 Senior Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	107,811	91,527		111,096	92,381
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	51	0		51	0
Operating expenses	102,173	93,036		150,345	135,707
Selling, general and administrative	16,000	15,638		30,552	30,088
Depreciation and amortization	8	8		16	16
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0		0	0
Gain on sale of investment				(617)
Total costs and expenses	118,232	108,682		180,347	165,811
Operating income (loss)	(10,421)	(17,155)		(69,251)	(73,430)
Interest (income) expense, net	4,996	4,592		10,026	8,959
Net effect of swaps	8,653	(582)		14,041	(2,003)
Loss on early debt extinguishment					187
(Gain) loss on foreign currency	12	62		1	21
Other (income) expense	(24,465)	(22,751)		(35,971)	(32,555)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(45,111)	(2,531)		(30,452)	26,284
Income (loss) before taxes	45,494	4,055		(26,896)	(74,323)
Provision for taxes	(102)	(143)		(14,041)	(9,994)
Net income (loss)	45,596	4,198		(12,855)	(64,329)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0		0	0
Cash flow hedging derivative activity		727			1,357
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	0	727		0	1,357
Total comprehensive income (loss)	45,596	4,925		(12,855)	(62,972)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada) [Member] | 2024 U.S. fixed rate notes at 5.375%[Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	38,374	29,648		38,670	29,919
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	3,874	3,184		3,926	3,184
Operating expenses	15,034	14,254		20,745	19,970
Selling, general and administrative	3,847	3,556		4,865	4,236
Depreciation and amortization	5,682	5,940		5,682	5,940
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	25	27		35	67
Gain on sale of investment				0
Total costs and expenses	28,462	26,961		35,253	33,397
Operating income (loss)	9,912	2,687		3,417	(3,478)
Interest (income) expense, net	6,045	6,068		11,758	11,651
Net effect of swaps	0	0		0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment					0
(Gain) loss on foreign currency	(9,484)	14,922		(18,142)	25,057
Other (income) expense	926	932		2,025	1,786
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(11,401)	(8,982)		(6,798)	(5,069)
Income (loss) before taxes	23,826	(10,253)		14,574	(36,903)
Provision for taxes	256	3,346		(2,803)	(2,716)
Net income (loss)	23,570	(13,599)		17,377	(34,187)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(4,632)	6,662		(7,682)	11,266
Cash flow hedging derivative activity		0			0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	(4,632)	6,662		(7,682)	11,266
Total comprehensive income (loss)	18,938	(6,937)		9,695	(22,921)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada) [Member] | 2027 and 2029 Senior Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	38,374	29,648		38,670	29,919
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	3,874	3,184		3,926	3,184
Operating expenses	15,034	14,254		20,745	19,970
Selling, general and administrative	3,847	3,556		4,865	4,236
Depreciation and amortization	5,682	5,940		5,682	5,940
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	25	27		35	67
Gain on sale of investment				0
Total costs and expenses	28,462	26,961		35,253	33,397
Operating income (loss)	9,912	2,687		3,417	(3,478)
Interest (income) expense, net	6,045	6,068		11,758	11,651
Net effect of swaps	0	0		0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment					0
(Gain) loss on foreign currency	(9,484)	14,922		(18,142)	25,057
Other (income) expense	926	932		2,025	1,786
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(11,401)	(8,982)		(6,798)	(5,069)
Income (loss) before taxes	23,826	(10,253)		14,574	(36,903)
Provision for taxes	256	3,346		(2,803)	(2,716)
Net income (loss)	23,570	(13,599)		17,377	(34,187)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(4,632)	6,662		(7,682)	11,266
Cash flow hedging derivative activity		0			0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	(4,632)	6,662		(7,682)	11,266
Total comprehensive income (loss)	18,938	(6,937)		9,695	(22,921)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Millennium) [Member] | 2027 and 2029 Senior Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	316,198	279,133		380,785	332,864
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	29,089	25,595		36,330	31,494
Operating expenses	238,566	211,865		268,117	234,485
Selling, general and administrative	32,499	27,351		46,061	38,994
Depreciation and amortization	0	0		0	0
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	407	795		793	1,446
Gain on sale of investment				0
Total costs and expenses	300,561	265,606		351,301	306,419
Operating income (loss)	15,637	13,527		29,484	26,445
Interest (income) expense, net	15,165	13,046		28,549	24,599
Net effect of swaps	0	0		0	0
Loss on early debt extinguishment					886
(Gain) loss 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	472	481		935	960
Provision for taxes	472	481		935	960
Net income (loss)	0	0		0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0		0	0
Cash flow hedging derivative activity		0			0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	0	0		0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$ 0	$ 0		$ 0	$ 0