Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2016
Entity Information [Line Items]
Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]	1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies: Description of Business The use of the terms “CEC Entertainment,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” throughout these unaudited notes to the interim Consolidated Financial Statements refer to CEC Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. We currently operate and franchise Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza family dining and entertainment centers (also referred to as “stores”) in a total of 47 states and 12 foreign countries and territories. Our stores provide our guests with a variety of family entertainment and dining alternatives. All of our stores utilize a consistent restaurant-entertainment format that features both family dining and entertainment areas with a mix of food, beverages, entertainment and merchandise. The economic characteristics, products and services, preparation processes, distribution methods and types of customers are substantially similar for each of our stores. Therefore, we aggregate each store’s operating performance into one reportable segment for financial reporting purposes.
Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]	Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies: Description of Business The use of the terms “CEC Entertainment,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” throughout these unaudited notes to the interim Consolidated Financial Statements refer to CEC Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. We currently operate and franchise Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza family dining and entertainment centers (also referred to as “stores”) in a total of 47 states and 12 foreign countries and territories. Our stores provide our guests with a variety of family entertainment and dining alternatives. All of our stores utilize a consistent restaurant-entertainment format that features both family dining and entertainment areas with a mix of food, beverages, entertainment and merchandise. The economic characteristics, products and services, preparation processes, distribution methods and types of customers are substantially similar for each of our stores. Therefore, we aggregate each store’s operating performance into one reportable segment for financial reporting purposes. Basis of Presentation The Company has a controlling financial interest in International Association of CEC Entertainment, Inc. (the “Association”), a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The Association primarily administers the collection and disbursement of funds (the “Association Funds”) used for advertising, entertainment and media programs that benefit both us and our Chuck E. Cheese’s franchisees. We and our franchisees are required to contribute a percentage of gross sales to these funds and could be required to make additional contributions to fund any deficits that may be incurred by the Association. We include the Association in our Consolidated Financial Statements, as we concluded that we are the primary beneficiary of its variable interests because we (a) have the power to direct the majority of its significant operating activities; (b) provide it unsecured lines of credit; and (c) own the majority of the stores that benefit from the Association’s advertising, entertainment and media expenditures. The assets, liabilities and operating results of the Association are not material to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Because the Association Funds are required to be segregated and used for specified purposes, we do not reflect franchisee contributions to the Association Funds as revenue, but rather record franchisee contributions as an offset to reported advertising expenses. Our contributions to the Association Funds are eliminated in consolidation. Contributions to the advertising, entertainment and media funds from our franchisees were $1.7 million and $1.6 million for the nine months ended October 2, 2016 and September 27, 2015, respectively. Cash balances held by the Association are restricted for use in our advertising, entertainment and media programs, and are recorded as “Restricted cash” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The preparation of these unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Interim Financial Statements The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements as of October 2, 2016 and for the three and nine months ended October 2, 2016 and September 27, 2015 are unaudited and are presented in accordance with the requirements for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and, consequently, do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures required by GAAP. In the opinion of management, the Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for the fair statement of its consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows as of the dates and for the periods presented in accordance with GAAP and the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Our Consolidated Financial Statements include all necessary reclassification adjustments to conform prior year results to the current period presentation. We reclassified $1.5 million and $3.6 million of litigation costs related to the Merger (as defined in Note 12. “Commitments and Contingencies”) in our Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2015, respectively, from “General and administrative expenses” to “Transaction, severance and litigation related costs” to conform to the current period’s presentation. Consolidated results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 2, 2016.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The Company has a controlling financial interest in International Association of CEC Entertainment, Inc. (the “Association”), a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The Association primarily administers the collection and disbursement of funds (the “Association Funds”) used for advertising, entertainment and media programs that benefit both us and our Chuck E. Cheese’s franchisees. We and our franchisees are required to contribute a percentage of gross sales to these funds and could be required to make additional contributions to fund any deficits that may be incurred by the Association. We include the Association in our Consolidated Financial Statements, as we concluded that we are the primary beneficiary of its variable interests because we (a) have the power to direct the majority of its significant operating activities; (b) provide it unsecured lines of credit; and (c) own the majority of the stores that benefit from the Association’s advertising, entertainment and media expenditures. The assets, liabilities and operating results of the Association are not material to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Because the Association Funds are required to be segregated and used for specified purposes, we do not reflect franchisee contributions to the Association Funds as revenue, but rather record franchisee contributions as an offset to reported advertising expenses. Our contributions to the Association Funds are eliminated in consolidation. Contributions to the advertising, entertainment and media funds from our franchisees were $1.7 million and $1.6 million for the nine months ended October 2, 2016 and September 27, 2015, respectively. Cash balances held by the Association are restricted for use in our advertising, entertainment and media programs, and are recorded as “Restricted cash” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The preparation of these unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Property and Equipment	an asset impairment charge of $0.8 million primarily related to four stores. During the three and nine months ended September 27, 2015, we recognized an asset impairment charge of $0.9 million primarily related to four stores. We closed two of these stores. These impairment charges were the result of a decline in the stores’ financial performance, primarily related to various economic factors in the markets in which the stores are located. As of October 2, 2016, the aggregate carrying value of the property and equipment at impaired stores, after the impairment charges, was $0.6 million for stores impaired in 2016.
Recently Issued Accounting Guidance	Recently Issued Accounting Guidance Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted: In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This new standard introduces a new lease model that requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and the disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. The new guidance will be effective for the Company for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 (i.e., calendar periods beginning on January 1, 2019). Early adoption will be permitted for all entities. We are currently assessing the impact of adopting this new guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-04, Liabilities - Extinguishments of Liabilities (Subtopic 405-20). This amendment provides a narrow scope exception to Liabilities - Extinguishment of Liabilities (Subtopic 405-20) that requires breakage for those liabilities to be accounted for in accordance with the breakage guidance in Revenue From Contracts With Customers (Topic 606). There is currently no guidance in GAAP, or pending guidance, regarding the derecognition of prepaid stored-value product liabilities within the scope of the amendments in this update. Under the new guidance, if an entity expects to be entitled to a breakage amount for a liability resulting from the sale of a prepaid stored-value product, the entity shall derecognize the amount related to the expected breakage in proportion to the pattern of rights expected to be exercised by the product holder only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of the recognized breakage amount will not subsequently occur. If an entity does not expect to be entitled to a breakage amount for a prepaid stored-value product, the entity shall derecognize the amount related to the breakage when the likelihood of the product holder exercising its remaining rights becomes remote. This change to an entity’s estimated breakage amount shall be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate. The amendments in this update are effective for the Company for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. We are currently assessing the impact of adopting this new guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718). This amendment will require that (i) all excess tax benefits and deficiencies (including tax benefits of dividends on share-based payment awards) be recognized as income tax expense or benefit on the income statement, (ii) the tax effects of exercised or vested awards be treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur, and (iii) an entity recognize excess tax benefits regardless of whether the benefit reduces taxes payable in the current period or not. On the statement of cash flows excess tax benefits should be classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity. This amendment allows an entity to make an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest (current GAAP) or account for forfeitures when they occur. The threshold for an award to qualify for equity classification permits withholding up to the maximum statutory tax rate in applicable jurisdictions, and the cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax-withholding purposes should be classified as a financing activity on the statement of cash flows. Nonpublic entities can make an accounting policy election to apply a practical expedient to estimate the expected term for all awards with performance or service conditions that meet certain conditions. For the Company, the amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods. We do not expect the adoption of this amendment to have a significant impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. This amendment updates the revenue guidance on identifying performance obligations and accounting for licenses of intellectual property, changing the FASB’s previous proposals on right-of-use licenses and contractual restrictions. For an entity that licenses intellectual property, the amount or timing of revenue recognition and the timing and pattern of revenue recognition for intellectual property licenses, including the application of the sale- and usage-based royalties exception, may be significantly different from current practice. Additionally, an entity will need to evaluate which contractual restrictions are attributes of a license and which give rise to separate performance obligations. This amendment is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and for interim periods therein. Early application is permitted, but only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods therein. We do not expect the adoption of this amendment to have a significant impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This amendment changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments. For trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and other instruments, entities will be required to use a new forward-looking “expected loss” model that generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. The amendments in this update are effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Entities may early adopt the amendments in this update as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We do not expect the adoption of this amendment to have a significant impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230). This amendment reduces diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. Current GAAP either is unclear or does not include specific guidance on eight cash flow classification issues addressed in this amendment, including (i) debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; (ii) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; (iii) separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle; and (iv) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination. The amendment is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. We do not expect the adoption of this amendment to have a significant impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.