Description of the Business and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) Business	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) Business Segment	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
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
Revenue and related expense for bartered ticket transactions	$ 5,700	$ 6,500	$ 8,600	$ 11,000
Long term deferred revenue	10,475	10,559	$ 10,475	10,559
Revenue, practical expedient, initial application and transition, nondisclosure of transaction price allocation to remaining performance obligation			true
Revenue, practical expedient, incremental cost of obtaining contract			true
Revenue	391,921	373,750	$ 609,087	560,107
Non-cash goodwill impairment charge		269,332		269,332
Remaining goodwill balance	66,278		66,278		$ 66,278
SeaWorld Orlando Reporting Unit [Member]
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Non-cash goodwill impairment charge		269,300
Discovery Cove Reporting Unit [Member]
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Remaining goodwill balance	66,300		66,300		$ 66,300
Food, Merchandise and Other [Member]
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Revenue	166,115	$ 148,799	253,278	$ 220,067
Food, Merchandise and Other [Member] | ZHG Stock Purchase Agreement [Member]
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Revenue	1,300		2,500
Middle East Project [Member]
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Long term deferred revenue	10,000		10,000
Deferred costs incurred under Middle East Project	3,500		3,500
Certain Rides and Equipment {Member]
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Write-offs of property and equipment	$ 7,300		$ 7,700