Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Jan. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2009
Total Mountain net revenue	$ 41,717	$ 351,418	$ 318,277	$ 40,779	$ 36,100	$ 302,213	$ 260,978	$ 39,204	$ 752,191	$ 638,495	$ 614,597
Lodging	54,388	57,477	51,676	51,117	51,322	51,880	44,802	47,297	214,658	195,301	203,606
Resort									966,849	833,796	818,203
Real estate	12,568	13,221	25,147	149,261	56,768	3,164	870	205	200,197	61,007	186,150
Total net revenue	108,673	422,116	395,100	241,157	144,190	357,257	306,650	86,706	1,167,046	894,803	1,004,353
Mountain									540,366	456,017	451,025
Lodging									205,903	192,909	196,847
Resort									746,269	648,926	647,872
Real estate									205,232	71,402	142,070
Total segment operating expense									951,501	720,328	789,942
Gain on sale of real property										6,087
Mountain equity investment income, net									1,342	1,558	817
Total Reported EBITDA									216,887	182,120	215,228
Real estate held for sale and investment	273,663				422,164				273,663	422,164	311,485
Depreciation and amortization									(117,957)	(110,638)	(107,213)
Loss on disposal of fixed assets, net									(555)	(615)	(1,064)
Asset impairment charges									(2,561)
Investment income, net									719	445	1,793
Interest expense, net									(33,641)	(17,515)	(27,548)
Loss on extinguishment of debt									(7,372)
Income before provision for income taxes									55,520	53,797	81,196
Provision for income taxes (Note 11)									(21,098)	(18,022)	(30,644)
Net income	(53,935)	76,840	54,577	(43,060)	(42,184)	76,391	45,079	(43,511)	34,422	35,775	50,552
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests									67	(5,390)	(1,602)
Net income (loss) attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc.	(53,906)	76,867	54,551	(43,023)	(41,921)	72,789	40,690	(41,173)	34,489	30,385	48,950
Lift Tickets [Member]
Total Mountain net revenue									342,514	289,289	276,542
Ski School [Member]
Total Mountain net revenue									83,818	70,694	65,336
Dining [Member]
Total Mountain net revenue									68,052	53,322	52,259
Retail/Rental [Member]
Total Mountain net revenue									174,339	154,846	147,415
Other Mountain Revenue [Member]
Total Mountain net revenue									83,468	70,344	73,045
Resort [Member]
Total Reported EBITDA									221,922	186,428	171,148
Mountain [Member]
Total Reported EBITDA									213,167	184,036	164,389
Lodging [Member]
Total Reported EBITDA									8,755	2,392	6,759
Real Estate [Member]
Total Reported EBITDA									$ (5,035)	$ (4,308)	$ 44,080