Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Amscan Holdings Inc. Stockholder's Equity	Non-controlling Interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 412,117	$ 0	$ 335,076	$ 87,004	$ (11,852)	$ 410,228	$ 1,889
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2008		30,226
Net income	62,751			62,553		62,553	198
Net change in cumulative translation adjustment	4,057				4,007	4,007	50
Change in fair value of interest rate swap contracts, net of income taxes	1,317				1,317	1,317
Change in fair value of foreign exchange contracts, net of income tax benefit	(1,867)				(1,867)	(1,867)
Comprehensive income (loss)	66,258					66,010	248
Purchase of redeemable common securities	(129)		(129)			(129)
Equity based compensation expense	876		876			876
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	479,122	0	335,823	149,557	(8,395)	476,985	2,137
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009		30,226
Net income	49,433			49,319		49,319	114
Net change in cumulative translation adjustment	(315)				(376)	(376)	61
Change in fair value of interest rate swap contracts, net of income taxes	2,563				2,563	2,563
Change in fair value of foreign exchange contracts, net of income tax benefit	293				293	293
Comprehensive income (loss)	51,974					51,799	175
Equity based compensation expense	723		723			723
Revaluation of redeemable common securities	(5,305)		(5,305)			(5,305)
Issuance of non-redeemable warrants	21,000		21,000			21,000
Dividend distribution	(291,092)		(64,658)	(226,434)		(291,092)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	256,422	0	287,583	(27,558)	(5,915)	254,110	2,312
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		30,226
Net income	76,410			76,275		76,275	135
Net change in cumulative translation adjustment	(7,404)				(7,234)	(7,234)	(170)
Change in fair value of interest rate swap contracts, net of income taxes	1,414				1,414	1,414
Change in fair value of foreign exchange contracts, net of income tax benefit	381				381	381
Comprehensive income (loss)	70,801					70,836	(35)
Equity based compensation expense	1,281		1,281			1,281
Revaluation of redeemable common securities	(2,189)		(2,189)			(2,189)
Exercise of warrants to redeemable common stock	(4)		(4)			(4)
Exercise of stock options to redeemable common stock	(248)		(248)			(248)
Exercise of non-redeemable warrants, shares		741
Exercise of non-redeemable common stock options	28		28			28
Exercise of non-redeemable common stock options, shares		2.78
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 326,091	$ 0	$ 286,451	$ 48,717	$ (11,354)	$ 323,814	$ 2,277
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		30,970