Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2015

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]

New Accounting Standards— In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”, which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, “Revenue Recognition”. This ASU is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The standard will be effective for the first interim period within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 (the Company's 2018 first fiscal quarter), using one of two retrospective application methods. The Company is evaluating the impacts, if any, the adoption of this accounting standard will have on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, "Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis", which amends the consolidation requirements in ASC 810, "Consolidation". This ASU affects reporting entities that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. All legal entities are subject to reevaluation under the revised consolidation model. Specifically, the amendments: (i) modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities ("VIEs") or voting interest entities, (ii) eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, (iii) affect the consolidated analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships and (iv) provide a scope exception for certain entities. The standard will be effective for the first interim period within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 (the Company's 2017 first fiscal quarter). The standard may be applied retrospectively or through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company is evaluating the impacts, if any, the adoption of this accounting standard will have on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

Consolidated Financial Statements Policy [Table Text Block]

Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements— In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements reflect all adjustments necessary to state fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Results for interim periods are not indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year. The accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2014. Certain information and footnote disclosures, including significant accounting policies, normally included in fiscal year financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. The Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet as of July 31, 2014 was derived from audited financial statements.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates— The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Canyons Retrospective Adjustment [Policy Text Block]

Canyons Retrospective Adjustment— During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2014, the Company recorded a measurement period adjustment to its Canyons preliminary purchase price allocation of $32.9 million which reduced deferred income tax assets, net with a corresponding increase to goodwill and reflected this as a retrospective adjustment as of July 31, 2013. As such, the January 31, 2014 Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet reflects this retrospective adjustment (including the Supplemental Consolidating Condensed Balance Sheet - see Note 13, Guarantor Subsidiaries and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries).

Noncontrolling Interests In Consolidated Financial Statements

Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements— Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests along with net income (loss) attributable to the stockholders of the Company are reported separately in the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Operations. Additionally, noncontrolling interests in the consolidated subsidiaries of the Company are reported as a separate component of equity in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet, apart from the Company’s equity. The following table summarizes the changes in total stockholders’ equity (in thousands):



	For the Six Months Ended January 31,
	2015									2014
	Vail Resorts Stockholders’ Equity			Noncontrolling Interests			Total Stockholders' Equity			Vail Resorts Stockholders’ Equity			Noncontrolling Interests			Total Stockholders' Equity
Balance, beginning of period	$	820,843		$	13,957		$	834,800		$	823,868		$	14,001		$	837,869
Net income (loss)	51,486			(110		)	51,376			(14,113		)	(124		)	(14,237		)
Stock-based compensation expense	8,226			—			8,226			7,054			—			7,054
Issuance of shares under share award plans, net of shares withheld for taxes	(3,705		)	—			(3,705		)	(4,877		)	—			(4,877		)
Tax benefit from share award plans	3,241			—			3,241			3,240			—			3,240
Cash dividends paid on common stock	(30,141		)	—			(30,141		)	(14,986		)	—			(14,986		)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests, net	—			112			112			—			113			113
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(447		)	—			(447		)	(119		)	—			(119		)
Balance, end of period	$	849,503		$	13,959		$	863,462		$	800,067		$	13,990		$	814,057

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value Instruments— The recorded amounts for cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, other current assets, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The fair value of amounts outstanding under the Employee Housing Bonds (Note 4, Long-Term Debt) approximate book value due to the variable nature of the interest rate associated with that debt. The fair value of the 6.50% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2019 (“6.50% Notes”) are based on quoted market prices (a Level 1 input). The fair value of the Company’s Industrial Development Bonds (Note 4, Long-Term Debt) and other long-term debt have been estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on current borrowing rates for debt with similar remaining maturities and ratings (a Level 3 input). The estimated fair values of the 6.50% Notes, Industrial Development Bonds and other long-term debt as of January 31, 2015 are presented below (in thousands):



	January 31, 2015
	Carrying Value		Fair Value
6.50% Notes	$	215,000	$	223,063
Industrial Development Bonds	$	41,200	$	47,014
Other long-term debt	$	11,984	$	12,679