Revenue Recognition

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition:As disclosed within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income, revenues are generated from sales of (1) admission to our 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 our parks, including parking fees. Revenues related to extra-charge products, including premium benefit offerings such as front-of-line products, and online transaction fees charged to customers are included in "Accommodations, extra-charge products and other".

The following table presents net revenues disaggregated by revenues generated within the parks and revenues generated from out-of-park operations less amounts remitted to outside parties under concessionaire arrangements for the periods presented:

	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2020		2019		2018
In-park revenues	$	120,370	$	1,349,903	$	1,235,742
Out-of-park revenues	67,375		168,708		152,216
Concessionaire remittance	(6,190)		(43,686)		(39,428)
Net revenues	$	181,555	$	1,474,925	$	1,348,530

Many products, including season-long products, are sold to customers in advance, resulting in a contract liability ("deferred revenue"). Deferred revenue is typically at its highest immediately prior to the peak summer season, and at its lowest at the beginning of the calendar year following the close of our parks' operating seasons. Season-long products represent most of the deferred revenue balance in any given period.

Of the $151.4 million of deferred revenue recorded as of January 1, 2020, 91% was related to season-long products. The remainder was related to deferred online transaction fees charged to customers, advanced ticket sales, marina deposits, advanced resort reservations, and other deferred revenue. During the year ended December 31, 2020, approximately $28 million of the deferred revenue balance as of January 1, 2020 was recognized. Typically, all deferred revenue as of January 1, 2020 would have been recognized by December 31, 2020 except for an immaterial amount of deferred revenue for prepaid products such as gift cards and prepaid games cards. Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we extended the validity of our 2020 season-long products through the 2021 operating season in order to ensure our season pass holders receive a full season of access to our parks. The extended validity of the 2020 season-long products resulted in a significant amount of revenue deferred into 2021. In order to calculate revenue recognized in 2020 on 2020 season-long products, management made significant estimates regarding the estimated number of uses expected for these season-long products for admission, dining, beverage and other products for the 2021 operating season. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates depending on the ultimate extent of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Payment is due immediately on the transaction date for most products. Our 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 vary in length from three monthly installments to 12 monthly installments. Payment terms for billings are typically net 30 days. Receivables are typically highest in the peak summer months and lowest in the winter months. We are not exposed to a significant concentration of customer credit risk. As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we recorded an $8.7 million and $3.4 million allowance for doubtful accounts, respectively, representing estimated defaults on installment purchase plans. The default estimate is calculated using historical default rates adjusted for current period trends, including an adjustment for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our customers' ability to pay based on collection rates since March 2020. The allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded as a reduction of deferred revenue to the extent revenue has not been recognized on the corresponding season-long products. Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and given the uncertainty around the timing of the reopening of our parks, we paused collections on our installment purchase plans in April 2020. For those parks which opened during the summer of 2020, we resumed collections of guest payments on installment purchase products as each of these parks opened for the 2020 operating season. For those parks which did not open during the summer of 2020, we will resume collections of guest payments as each of these parks opens for the 2021 operating season.