Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 27, 2016	May. 01, 2016
DEI [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 27, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	CEDAR FAIR L P
Entity Central Index Key	0000811532
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		56,068,506