Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Business Segment	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred tax liabilities net, noncurrent	$ 70,033,000	$ 65,689,000
Cash and cash equivalents settlement terms	Less than four days
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 68,958,000	18,971,000	$ 43,906,000		$ 116,841,000
Restricted cash	420,000	652,000
Interest capitalized	2,686,000	2,299,000	2,629,000
Capitalized Computer Software, Net	11,441,000	12,873,000
Capitalized Computer Software, Accumulated Amortization	12,576,000	9,250,000
Capitalized Computer Software, Amortization	3,399,000	3,022,000	2,703,000
Impairment losses	0	0	0
Goodwill	335,610,000	335,610,000
Goodwill impairments	0	0
Other indefinite lived assets impairments	0	0
Self-insurance reserves	28,335,000	27,819,000
Long-term deferred revenue	509,000	1,820,000
Revenue and related expense for bartered ticket transactions	$ 29,000,000	18,000,000	17,700,000
Number of theme parks owned and operated | Business	12
Number of reportable segment | Segment	1
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Advertising and media costs	$ 124,600,000	106,000,000	$ 110,500,000
Middle East Project [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Long-term deferred revenue	10,000,000
Deferred costs incurred under Middle East Project	2,800,000
Accrued Salaries, Wages and Benefits [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Self-insurance reserves	2,685,000	2,769,000
Other Liabilities [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Self-insurance reserves	$ 7,191,000	6,973,000
SeaWorld Orlando Reporting Unit [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Goodwill				$ 269,000,000
Computer System Development Costs [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	5 years
Amounts Due from Third-Party Credit Card Companies [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 12,289,000	9,597,000
Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
FDIC insured amount	$ 250,000
Maximum [Member] | Animals [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	50 years
Minimum [Member] | Animals [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	1 year
Scenario Previously Reported [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, net		$ 2,975,000
Restatement Adjustment
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets net, noncurrent	$ 503,000
Deferred tax liabilities net, noncurrent	$ 2,472,000