-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GK17hiHetAXw4/AlcMdIsMlQvkwbxdfSvZJhpYmaZLjSu2/VjhAxwTEfrsLRqoqr
 BLX8ubg6xlT17e/Uf+VxVg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000812011-03-000043.txt : 20031211
<SEC-HEADER>0000812011-03-000043.hdr.sgml : 20031211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031211140022
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000812011-03-000043
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031211

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VAIL RESORTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000812011
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISCELLANEOUS AMUSEMENT & RECREATION [7990]
		IRS NUMBER:				510291762
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0731

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		137 BENCHMARK ROAD
		STREET 2:		C/O ANACONDA TOWER
		CITY:			AVON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			81620
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9708452950

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		137 BENCHMARK ROAD
		CITY:			AVON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			81620

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCCARTHY ROGER DUDLEY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001119698

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09614
		FILM NUMBER:		031049217

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		VAIL RESORTS INC
		STREET 2:		137 BENCHMARK ROAD
		CITY:			AVON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			81620
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9708452597

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		VAIL RESORTS INC
		STREET 2:		137 BENCHMARK ROAD
		CITY:			AVON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			81620
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-09</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000812011</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VAIL RESORTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MTN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001119698</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCCARTHY ROGER DUDLEY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VAIL RESORTS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 7</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VAIL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>81658</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP,COO Keystone/Breckenridge</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.49</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>778</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.49</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1722</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Roger D. McCarthy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----