Equity-Based Compensation - Schedule of Employee Stock Performance Activity (Time-Vesting Units and Time Restricted shares) (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vested shares	0
Forfeited shares	0
Outstanding shares, Ending balance	0
Outstanding Unvested shares	0
Units Surrendered for Shares Plan [Member] \| Common Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Surrender of units to shares of stock (in shares)	4,165,861
Units Surrendered for Shares Plan [Member] \| Unvested Time Vesting Units Surrendered for Unvested Time Restricted Shares [Member] \| Common Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Surrender of units to shares of stock (in shares)	599,215
Units Surrendered for Shares Plan [Member] \| Time Restricted Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average fair value (in USD per share/unit)	$ 3.83
Forfeited (in USD per share/unit)	$ 3.82
Weighted average fair value of outstanding unvested shares of stock, Ending balance (in USD per share/unit)	$ 4.19
Outstanding unvested Time Restricted shares of stock, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	13 months
Units Surrendered for Shares Plan [Member] \| Time Restricted Shares [Member] \| Common Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vested units
Vested shares	(221,710)
Forfeited shares	(2,025)
Outstanding shares, Ending balance	375,480
Outstanding Unvested shares	375,480
Units Surrendered for Shares Plan [Member] \| Time Restricted Shares [Member] \| Unvested Time Vesting Units Surrendered for Unvested Time Restricted Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average fair value (in USD per share/unit)	$ 4.06
Units Surrendered for Shares Plan [Member] \| Time Restricted Shares [Member] \| Unvested Time Vesting Units Surrendered for Unvested Time Restricted Shares [Member] \| Common Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Surrender of units to shares of stock (in shares)	599,215
Units Surrendered for Shares Plan [Member] \| TVUs [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding units, Beginning balance	112,701
Weighted average fair value of outstanding unvested units/shares, Beginning balance (in USD per share/unit)	$ 21.70
Vested units	(8,788)
Weighted average fair value (in USD per share/unit)	$ 22.71
Employee Unit Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
TVUS surrendered for unvested Time Restricted shares of stock (in units)	(698,533)
Employee Unit Incentive Plan [Member] \| Unvested Time Vesting Units Surrendered for Unvested Time Restricted Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
TVUS surrendered for unvested Time Restricted shares of stock (in units)	(103,913)

The number of common stock shares that were provided for the surrender of Employee Units.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	seas_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of equity-based Employee Units, that validly exist and are outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	seas_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of equity-based Employee Units, that were surrendered for shares of common stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	seas_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of equity-based Employee Units, that vested during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	seas_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were forfeited during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average fair value as of the grant date of equity-based award plans other than stock (unit) option plans that were not exercised or put into effect as a result of the occurrence of a terminating event.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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- Definition

The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(i)-(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted average fair value of nonvested awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan) for which the employer is contingently obligated to issue equity instruments or transfer assets to an employee who has not yet satisfied service or performance criteria necessary to gain title to proceeds from the sale of the award or underlying shares or units.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(i)-(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average remaining contractual term for equity-based awards excluding options, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (e)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that vested during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average fair value as of grant date pertaining to an equity-based award plan other than a stock (or unit) option plan for which the grantee gained the right during the reporting period, by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash in accordance with the terms of the arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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