<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
  <Version>2.4.0.8</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>42</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>191</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>true</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>13</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>5</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001000 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001000 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001501 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Earnings</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfEarnings</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Earnings</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1004000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2101100 - Disclosure - Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/DescriptionOfBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2102100 - Disclosure - Asset Impairments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/AssetImpairments</Role>
      <ShortName>Asset Impairments</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2104100 - Disclosure - Revolving Credit Facility</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/RevolvingCreditFacility</Role>
      <ShortName>Revolving Credit Facility</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2105100 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2106100 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/EarningsPerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2109100 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/StockBasedCompensationArrangements</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2112100 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/StockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2201201 - Disclosure - Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/DescriptionOfBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2304301 - Disclosure - Revolving Credit Facility (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/RevolvingCreditFacilityTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Revolving Credit Facility (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2306301 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/EarningsPerShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2309301 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/StockBasedCompensationArrangementsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2312301 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/StockholdersEquityTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2401402 - Disclosure - Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/DescriptionOfBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesAdditionalInformationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2402401 - Disclosure - Asset Impairments - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/AssetImpairmentsAdditionalInformationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Asset Impairments - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404402 - Disclosure - Revolving Credit Facility - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/RevolvingCreditFacilityAdditionalInformationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Revolving Credit Facility - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405401 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/IncomeTaxesAdditionalInformationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406402 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share Computation of EPS, Basic and Diluted (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/EarningsPerShareComputationOfEpsBasicAndDilutedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share Computation of EPS, Basic and Diluted (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2409402 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements - Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Expense and Associated Tax Benefit Recognized (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/StockBasedCompensationArrangementsStockBasedCompensationArrangementsSummaryOfStockBasedCompensationExpenseAndAssociatedTaxBenefitRecognizedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements - Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Expense and Associated Tax Benefit Recognized (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2409403 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements - Summary of Restricted Stock Activity (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/StockBasedCompensationArrangementsStockBasedCompensationArrangementsSummaryOfRestrictedStockActivityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements - Summary of Restricted Stock Activity (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2409404 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/StockBasedCompensationArrangementsAdditionalInformationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412402 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/StockholdersEquityAdditionalInformationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412403 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity - Summary of Changes In Stockholders' Equity (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.chuckecheese.com/role/StockholdersEquitySummaryOfChangesInStockholdersEquityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity - Summary of Changes In Stockholders' Equity (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash had a mix of decimals attribute values: -5 -3.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '2402401 - Disclosure - Asset Impairments - Additional Information (Detail)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '2404402 - Disclosure - Revolving Credit Facility - Additional Information (Detail)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '2412402 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001000 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Sep. 30, 2012'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Jan. 01, 2012'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001501 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Earnings</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1003000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1004000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>cec-20130929.xml</File>
    <File>cec-20130929.xsd</File>
    <File>cec-20130929_cal.xml</File>
    <File>cec-20130929_def.xml</File>
    <File>cec-20130929_lab.xml</File>
    <File>cec-20130929_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
