Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
Total Mountain net revenue	$ 46,414	$ 354,586	$ 315,938	$ 49,670	$ 41,717	$ 351,418	$ 318,277	$ 40,779	$ 766,608	$ 752,191	$ 638,495
Lodging	54,751	53,972	48,306	53,594	54,388	57,477	51,676	51,117	210,623	214,658	195,301
Resort									977,231	966,849	833,796
Real Estate	12,379	12,587	9,088	13,109	12,568	13,221	25,147	149,261	47,163	200,197	61,007
Total net revenue	113,544	421,145	373,332	116,373	108,673	422,116	395,100	241,157	1,024,394	1,167,046	894,803
Mountain									568,578	540,366	456,017
Lodging									204,270	205,903	192,909
Resort									772,848	746,269	648,926
Real estate									63,170	205,232	71,402
Total segment operating expense									836,018	951,501	720,328
Gain on sale of real property									0	0	6,087
Mountain equity investment income, net									878	1,342	1,558
Total Reported EBITDA									189,254	216,887	182,120
Real estate held for sale and investment	237,668				273,663				237,668	273,663	422,164
Depreciation and amortization									(127,581)	(117,957)	(110,638)
Loss on disposal of fixed assets, net									(1,464)	(555)	(615)
Asset impairment charge									0	(2,561)	0
Investment income, net									469	719	445
Interest expense, net									(33,586)	(33,641)	(17,515)
Loss on extinguishment of debt									0	(7,372)	0
Income before provision for income taxes									27,092	55,520	53,797
Provision for income taxes (Note 11)									(10,701)	(21,098)	(18,022)
Net income	(53,824)	79,528	46,421	(55,734)	(53,915)	76,840	54,557	(43,060)	16,391	34,422	35,775
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests									62	67	(5,390)
Net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.	(53,796)	79,569	46,389	(55,709)	(53,906)	76,867	54,551	(43,023)	16,453	34,489	30,385
Lift Tickets [Member]
Total Mountain net revenue									342,500	342,514	289,289
Ski School [Member]
Total Mountain net revenue									84,292	83,818	70,694
Dining [Member]
Total Mountain net revenue									68,376	68,052	53,322
Retail/Rental [Member]
Total Mountain net revenue									181,772	174,339	154,846
Other [Member]
Total Mountain net revenue									89,668	83,468	70,344
Resort [Member]
Total Reported EBITDA									205,261	221,922	186,428
Mountain [Member]
Total Reported EBITDA									198,908	213,167	184,036
Lodging [Member]
Total Reported EBITDA									6,353	8,755	2,392
Real Estate [Member]
Total Reported EBITDA									$ (16,007)	$ (5,035)	$ (4,308)