(Loss) Earnings per Share - Schedule of (Loss) Earnings per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	[1]	Jun. 30, 2017	[2]	Mar. 31, 2017	[3]	Dec. 31, 2016	[4]	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	[5]	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic (loss) earnings per share, Net (Loss) Income														$ (202,386)	$ (12,531)	$ 49,133
Diluted (loss) earnings per share, Net (Loss) Income														$ (202,386)	$ (12,531)	$ 49,133
Basic (loss) earnings per share, Shares														85,811	84,925	85,860
Effect of dilutive incentive-based awards, Shares																121
Diluted (loss) earnings per share, Shares														85,811	84,925	85,981
Basic (loss) earnings per share, Per Share Amount	$ (0.24)	$ 0.64		$ (2.05)		$ (0.72)		$ (0.14)		$ 0.77	$ 0.21	$ (1.00)		$ (2.36)	$ (0.15)	$ 0.57
Diluted (loss) earnings per share, Per Share Amount	$ (0.24)	$ 0.64		$ (2.05)		$ (0.72)		$ (0.14)		$ 0.77	$ 0.21	$ (1.00)		$ (2.36)	$ (0.15)	$ 0.57

[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.