Schedule I - Condensed Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ 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
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net (loss) income		$ (20,441)	$ 55,034		$ (175,850)		$ (61,129)		$ (11,905)		$ 65,655	$ 17,768	$ (84,049)		$ (202,386)	$ (12,531)	$ 49,133
Comprehensive (loss) income															(193,768)	(13,088)	36,479
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Equity in net (loss) income of subsidiary															(202,386)	(12,531)	49,133
Net (loss) income															(202,386)	(12,531)	49,133
Equity in other comprehensive income (loss) of subsidiary	[6]														8,618	(557)	(12,654)
Comprehensive (loss) income	[6]														$ (193,768)	$ (13,088)	$ 36,479

[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.

[6] The parent company only condensed statements of comprehensive (loss) income reflect a correction to record its wholly owned subsidiary’s other comprehensive income (loss), which had previously been omitted for 2016 and 2015. The correction of this immaterial omission did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements for any periods presented.