Consolidating Financial Information of Guarantors and Issuers (Income Statement) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 53,635	$ 66,977
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	6,385	7,649
Operating expenses	106,368	98,205
Selling, general and administrative	24,809	31,666
Depreciation and amortization	5,088	13,589
(Gain) loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	6,767	1,424
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles	88,181	0
Gain on sale of investment	0	(617)
Total costs and expenses	237,598	151,916
Operating loss	(183,963)	(84,939)
Interest (income) expense, net	26,871	20,687
Net effect of swaps	19,779	6,379
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	34,202	(8,669)
Other expense (income)	(169)	(322)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	0	0
Loss before taxes	(264,984)	(103,658)
Provision for taxes	(49,007)	(19,985)
Net loss	(215,977)	(83,673)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	15,905	(3,050)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	15,905	(3,050)
Total comprehensive loss	(200,072)	(86,723)
2024 U.S. fixed rate notes at 5.375%[Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	(50,355)	(15,642)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0
Operating expenses	1	0
Selling, general and administrative	(362)	1,439
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
(Gain) loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles	0
Gain on sale of investment		0
Total costs and expenses	(361)	1,439
Operating loss	(49,994)	(17,081)
Interest (income) expense, net	6,030	6,391
Net effect of swaps	2,154	991
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0
Other expense (income)	(59)	(59)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	157,190	58,449
Loss before taxes	(215,427)	(82,971)
Provision for taxes	550	702
Net loss	(215,977)	(83,673)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	15,905	(3,050)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	15,905	(3,050)
Total comprehensive loss	(200,072)	(86,723)
2024 U.S. fixed rate notes at 5.375%[Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	33,309	59,905
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	6,382	7,597
Operating expenses	(74,040)	25,189
Selling, general and administrative	15,303	14,657
Depreciation and amortization	5,045	13,581
(Gain) loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	5,231	1,414
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles	88,181
Gain on sale of investment		0
Total costs and expenses	46,102	62,438
Operating loss	(12,793)	(2,533)
Interest (income) expense, net	10,175	3,553
Net effect of swaps	0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0
Other expense (income)	(8,462)	(10,670)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	49,048	6,190
Loss before taxes	(80,478)	(22,946)
Provision for taxes	(7,970)	(3,689)
Net loss	(72,508)	(19,257)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	0	0
Total comprehensive loss	(72,508)	(19,257)
2024 U.S. fixed rate notes at 5.375%[Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	120,466	19,133
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0
Operating expenses	120,466	19,133
Selling, general and administrative	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
(Gain) loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles	0
Gain on sale of investment		0
Total costs and expenses	120,466	19,133
Operating loss	0	0
Interest (income) expense, net	0	0
Net effect of swaps	0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0
Other expense (income)	0	0
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(278,747)	(83,901)
Loss before taxes	278,747	83,901
Provision for taxes	0	0
Net loss	278,747	83,901
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(15,905)	3,050
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	(15,905)	3,050
Total comprehensive loss	262,842	86,951
2027 Senior Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	(50,355)	(15,642)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0
Operating expenses	1	0
Selling, general and administrative	(362)	1,439
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
(Gain) loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles	0
Gain on sale of investment		0
Total costs and expenses	(361)	1,439
Operating loss	(49,994)	(17,081)
Interest (income) expense, net	6,030	6,391
Net effect of swaps	2,154	991
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0
Other expense (income)	(59)	(59)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	157,190	58,449
Loss before taxes	(215,427)	(82,971)
Provision for taxes	550	702
Net loss	(215,977)	(83,673)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	15,905	(3,050)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	15,905	(3,050)
Total comprehensive loss	(200,072)	(86,723)
2027 Senior Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	(10,356)	8,717
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	123	356
Operating expenses	2,666	9,037
Selling, general and administrative	639	1,095
Depreciation and amortization	5,045	13,581
(Gain) loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	4,790	1,028
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles	7,850
Gain on sale of investment		0
Total costs and expenses	21,113	25,097
Operating loss	(31,469)	(16,380)
Interest (income) expense, net	(8,501)	(9,831)
Net effect of swaps	0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0
Other expense (income)	(8,462)	(10,670)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	49,048	6,190
Loss before taxes	(80,478)	(23,409)
Provision for taxes	(7,970)	(4,152)
Net loss	(72,508)	(19,257)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	0	0
Total comprehensive loss	(72,508)	(19,257)
2027 Senior Notes [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	117,776	5,734
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0
Operating expenses	117,776	5,734
Selling, general and administrative	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
(Gain) loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles	0
Gain on sale of investment		0
Total costs and expenses	117,776	5,734
Operating loss	0	0
Interest (income) expense, net	0	0
Net effect of swaps	0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0
Other expense (income)	0	0
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	(278,747)	(83,901)
Loss before taxes	278,747	83,901
Provision for taxes	0	0
Net loss	278,747	83,901
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(15,905)	3,050
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	(15,905)	3,050
Total comprehensive loss	262,842	86,951
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum) [Member] | 2024 U.S. fixed rate notes at 5.375%[Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	(49,885)	3,285
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0
Operating expenses	53,895	48,172
Selling, general and administrative	8,851	14,552
Depreciation and amortization	8	8
(Gain) loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles	0
Gain on sale of investment		(617)
Total costs and expenses	62,754	62,115
Operating loss	(112,639)	(58,830)
Interest (income) expense, net	4,769	5,030
Net effect of swaps	17,625	5,388
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	7	(11)
Other expense (income)	8,200	11,506
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	69,205	14,659
Loss before taxes	(196,045)	(72,390)
Provision for taxes	(38,857)	(13,939)
Net loss	(157,188)	(58,451)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	0	0
Total comprehensive loss	(157,188)	(58,451)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum) [Member] | 2027 Senior Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	(49,885)	3,285
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	0	0
Operating expenses	53,895	48,172
Selling, general and administrative	8,851	14,552
Depreciation and amortization	8	8
(Gain) loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	0	0
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles	0
Gain on sale of investment		(617)
Total costs and expenses	62,754	62,115
Operating loss	(112,639)	(58,830)
Interest (income) expense, net	4,769	5,030
Net effect of swaps	17,625	5,388
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	7	(11)
Other expense (income)	8,200	11,506
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	69,205	14,659
Loss before taxes	(196,045)	(72,390)
Provision for taxes	(38,857)	(13,939)
Net loss	(157,188)	(58,451)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	0	0
Total comprehensive loss	(157,188)	(58,451)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada) [Member] | 2024 U.S. fixed rate notes at 5.375%[Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	100	296
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	3	52
Operating expenses	6,046	5,711
Selling, general and administrative	1,017	1,018
Depreciation and amortization	35	0
(Gain) loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	1,536	10
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles	0
Gain on sale of investment		0
Total costs and expenses	8,637	6,791
Operating loss	(8,537)	(6,495)
Interest (income) expense, net	5,897	5,713
Net effect of swaps	0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	34,195	(8,658)
Other expense (income)	152	(1,099)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	3,304	4,603
Loss before taxes	(51,781)	(9,252)
Provision for taxes	(2,730)	(3,059)
Net loss	(49,051)	(6,193)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	15,905	(3,050)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	15,905	(3,050)
Total comprehensive loss	(33,146)	(9,243)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada) [Member] | 2027 Senior Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	100	296
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	3	52
Operating expenses	6,046	5,711
Selling, general and administrative	1,017	1,018
Depreciation and amortization	35	0
(Gain) loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	1,536	10
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles	0
Gain on sale of investment		0
Total costs and expenses	8,637	6,791
Operating loss	(8,537)	(6,495)
Interest (income) expense, net	5,897	5,713
Net effect of swaps	0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	34,195	(8,658)
Other expense (income)	152	(1,099)
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	3,304	4,603
Loss before taxes	(51,781)	(9,252)
Provision for taxes	(2,730)	(3,059)
Net loss	(49,051)	(6,193)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	15,905	(3,050)
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	15,905	(3,050)
Total comprehensive loss	(33,146)	(9,243)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Millennium) [Member] | 2027 Senior Notes [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	46,355	64,587
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues	6,259	7,241
Operating expenses	(74,016)	29,551
Selling, general and administrative	14,664	13,562
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
(Gain) loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net	441	386
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles	80,331
Gain on sale of investment		0
Total costs and expenses	27,679	50,740
Operating loss	18,676	13,847
Interest (income) expense, net	18,676	13,384
Net effect of swaps	0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	0	0
Other expense (income)	0	0
(Income) loss from investment in affiliates	0	0
Loss before taxes	0	463
Provision for taxes	0	463
Net loss	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), (net of tax)	0	0
Total comprehensive loss	$ 0	$ 0