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Description of the Business and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail)
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
May 08, 2017
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Business
Jun. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Business
Segment
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2013
Partnership
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]                  
Number of limited partnerships which owned the company | Partnership                 10
Number of theme parks owned and operated | Business   12       12      
Number of theme parks opened for a portion of the year | Business           7      
Number of reportable segment | Segment           1      
Accelerated depreciation related to the disposal of the lifting floors             $ 33,700,000    
Revenue   $ 437,712,000   $ 485,318,000   $ 997,819,000 1,076,695,000    
Goodwill impairment charges           269,332,000      
Remaining goodwill balance   66,278,000       66,278,000   $ 335,610,000  
Trade Names/Trademarks Related to SeaWorld Brand [Member]                  
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]                  
Other indefinite lived assets     $ 93,000,000   $ 93,000,000        
Trade Names/Trademarks Related to SeaWorld Brand [Member] | Minimum [Member]                  
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]                  
Estimated fair value in excess of carrying values     12.00%   12.00%        
Trade Names/Trademarks Related to SeaWorld Brand [Member] | Maximum [Member]                  
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]                  
Estimated fair value in excess of carrying values     19.00%   19.00%        
Trade Names/Trademarks [Member]                  
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]                  
Other indefinite lived assets impairment         $ 0        
SeaWorld Orlando Reporting Unit [Member]                  
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]                  
Goodwill impairment charges           269,332,000      
Remaining goodwill balance   0       0   269,332,000  
Impairment of other long-lived assets     $ 0   $ 0        
Discovery Cove Reporting Unit [Member]                  
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]                  
Remaining goodwill balance   66,278,000       66,278,000   66,278,000  
Middle East Project [Member]                  
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]                  
Long-term deferred revenue   10,000,000       10,000,000   $ 10,000,000  
Deferred costs incurred under Middle East Project   2,900,000       2,900,000      
Operating Expenses [Member]                  
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]                  
Impairment loss of long-lived assets   $ 7,800,000       7,800,000      
Blue World Project Asset Write-offs             $ 6,400,000    
ZHG Stock Purchase Agreement [Member]                  
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]                  
Revenue           $ 2,600,000      
Stock Purchase Agreement [Member] | ZHG Group [Member]                  
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]                  
Percentage of common stock outstanding by partnership 21.00%                
Sale of stock percentage closing date May 08, 2017