Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Business	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	[2]	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	[3]	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)		Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	[5]	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Business Segment	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents settlement terms														less than four days
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 33,178,000							$ 68,958,000						$ 33,178,000	$ 68,958,000	$ 18,971,000	$ 43,906,000
Restricted cash	819,000							420,000						819,000	420,000
Interest capitalized														2,690,000	2,686,000	2,299,000
Capitalized Computer Software, Net	9,196,000							11,441,000						9,196,000	11,441,000
Capitalized Computer Software, Accumulated Amortization	16,062,000							12,576,000						16,062,000	12,576,000
Capitalized Computer Software, Amortization														3,544,000	3,399,000	3,022,000
Impairment losses															0	0
Self-insurance reserves	30,603,000							28,335,000						30,603,000	28,335,000
Long-term deferred revenue related to admission products	883,000							509,000						883,000	509,000
Revenue and related expense for bartered ticket transactions														21,000,000	29,000,000	18,000,000
Revenue	$ 265,505,000	$ 437,712,000	[1]	$ 373,750,000		$ 186,357,000		267,597,000	[4]	$ 485,318,000	$ 371,136,000	$ 220,241,000		$ 1,263,324,000	1,344,292,000	1,371,004,000
Number of theme parks owned and operated | Business	12													12
Number of reportable segment | Segment														1
Middle East Project [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Long-term deferred revenue related to admission products	$ 10,000,000							10,000,000						$ 10,000,000	10,000,000
Deferred costs incurred under Middle East Project	3,100,000							2,800,000						3,100,000	2,800,000
Accrued Salaries, Wages and Benefits [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Self-insurance reserves	2,603,000							2,685,000						2,603,000	2,685,000
Other Liabilities [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Self-insurance reserves	7,084,000							7,191,000						7,084,000	7,191,000
Operating Expense [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impairment loss of long-lived assets		$ 7,800,000
Food, Merchandise and Other Revenue [Member] | ZHG Stock Purchase Agreement [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Revenue														3,900,000
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other advertising and media costs														$ 118,000,000	124,600,000	$ 106,000,000
Computer System Development Costs [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life														5 years
Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
FDIC insured amount	250,000													$ 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
Amounts Due from Third-Party Credit Card Companies [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 16,799,000							$ 12,289,000						$ 16,799,000	$ 12,289,000

[1] During the third quarter of 2017, the Company recorded $5,100 in restructuring and other related costs primarily related to severance costs and other termination benefits. See Note 4–Restructuring Programs and Separation Costs for further details.

[2] During the second quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $269,332 related to the full impairment of the Company’s SeaWorld Orlando reporting unit and equity compensation expense of approximately $8,400 related to certain of the Company’s performance-vesting restricted shares (the “2.75x Performance Restricted shares”) for which a portion vested on May 8, 2017 with the closing of the Sale. See Note 9–Goodwill, Net and Note 19–Equity-Based Compensation for further details.

[3] During the first quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt and write-off of discounts and debt issuance costs of $8,020 related to the Amendment to its Existing Credit Agreement. See Note 12–Long-Term Debt for further details

[4] During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company recorded $8,904 in restructuring and other related costs primarily related to severance costs and other employment expenses. See Note 4–Restructuring Programs and Separation Costs for further details.

[5] During the first quarter of 2016, the Company recorded $27,516 in equity compensation expense related to certain of the Company’s performance-vesting restricted shares (the “2.25x Performance Restricted shares”) which became probable of vesting during the first quarter and vested on April 1, 2016. See Note 19–Equity-Based Compensation for further details.