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Long-Lived Assets
6 Months Ended
Jun. 26, 2011
Impairment or Disposal of Tangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Long-Lived Assets
Long-Lived Assets:
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment upon the occurrence of events or changes in circumstances that would indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. In order to determine if an asset has been impaired, assets are grouped and tested at the lowest level for which identifiable, independent cash flows are available. A significant amount of judgment is involved in determining if an indicator of impairment has occurred. Such indicators may include, among others: a significant decline in expected future cash flows; a sustained, significant decline in equity price and market capitalization; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate; unanticipated competition; and slower growth rates. Any adverse change in these factors could have a significant impact on the recoverability of these assets and could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.


The long-lived asset impairment test involves a two-step process. The first step is a comparison of each asset group's carrying value to its estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets, including disposition. Projected future cash flows reflect management's best estimates of economic and market conditions over the projected period, including growth rates in revenues and costs, estimates of future expected changes in operating margins and cash expenditures. Other significant estimates and assumptions include terminal value growth rates and future estimates of capital expenditures. If the carrying value of the asset group is higher than its undiscounted future cash flows, there is an indication that impairment exists and the second step must be performed to measure the amount of impairment loss. The amount of impairment is determined by comparing the implied fair value of the asset group to its carrying value in a manner consistent with the highest and best use of those assets. The Partnership estimates fair value using an income (discounted cash flows) approach, which uses an asset group's projection of estimated operating results and cash flows that is discounted using a weighted-average cost of capital reflective of current market conditions. If the implied fair value of the assets is less than their carrying value, an impairment charge is recorded for the difference.


At the end of the fourth quarter of 2010, the Partnership concluded based on 2010 operating results, as well as updated forecasts, that a review of the carrying value of long-lived assets at California's Great America was warranted. After performing its review, the Partnership determined that a portion of the park's fixed assets, the majority of which were originally recorded with the PPI acquisition, were impaired. As a result, the Partnership recognized $62.0 million of fixed-asset impairment during the fourth quarter of 2010 which is recorded in "Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets" on the condensed consolidated statement of operations.