Guarantor Subsidiaries And Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 95,642	$ 70,143	$ 97,251	$ 14,745
Restricted cash	16,221	12,438	15,900
Trade receivables, net	48,430	58,529	55,123
Inventories, net	62,594	54,007	54,586
Other current assets	56,998	50,507	47,199
Total current assets	279,885	245,624	270,059
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,057,930	1,021,736	1,044,498
Real estate held for sale and investment	257,169	273,663	281,699
Goodwill, net	268,058	268,058	271,105
Intangible assets, net	90,196	91,098	90,269
Other assets	45,997	46,057	44,163
Total assets	1,999,235	1,946,236	2,001,793
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	301,473	221,359	311,239
Income taxes payable	19,569	20,778	23,355
Long-term debt due within one year	1,058	1,045	2,708
Total current liabilities	322,100	243,182	337,302
Long-term debt	490,302	490,698	495,049
Other long-term liabilities	235,629	235,429	238,776
Deferred income taxes	129,962	133,208	109,963
Total Vail Resorts, Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit)	807,261	829,723	806,439
Noncontrolling interests	13,981	13,996	14,264
Total stockholders' equity (Note 2)	821,242	843,719	820,703	802,387
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,999,235	1,946,236	2,001,793
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Trade receivables, net			450
Other current assets	31,801	29,167	25,759
Total current assets	31,801	29,167	26,209
Other assets	7,620	8,060	2,160
Investments in subsidiaries	1,718,870	1,721,269	1,663,467
Advances	(376,815)	(349,144)	(320,369)
Total assets	1,381,476	1,409,352	1,371,467
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	6,579	7,117	12,507
Income taxes payable	19,569	20,778	23,355
Total current liabilities	26,148	27,895	35,862
Long-term debt	390,000	390,000	390,000
Other long-term liabilities	28,105	28,526	29,203
Deferred income taxes	129,962	133,208	109,963
Total Vail Resorts, Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit)	807,261	829,723	806,439
Total stockholders' equity (Note 2)	807,261	829,723	806,439
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,381,476	1,409,352	1,371,467
100% Owned Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	88,164	63,365	92,968	11,315
Restricted cash	15,164	11,781	15,142
Trade receivables, net	47,513	57,746	53,917
Inventories, net	62,340	53,775	54,348
Other current assets	24,847	21,063	21,151
Total current assets	238,028	207,730	237,526
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,010,430	972,963	997,583
Real estate held for sale and investment	257,169	273,663	281,699
Goodwill, net	268,058	268,058	271,105
Intangible assets, net	72,041	72,943	72,114
Other assets	33,826	33,296	37,267
Investments in subsidiaries	(4,657)	(3,862)	(5,097)
Advances	381,611	356,981	324,893
Total assets	2,256,506	2,181,772	2,217,090
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	288,258	211,565	296,271
Long-term debt due within one year	850	848	2,511
Total current liabilities	289,108	212,413	298,782
Long-term debt	42,344	42,532	46,883
Other long-term liabilities	206,184	205,558	207,958
Total Vail Resorts, Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit)	1,718,870	1,721,269	1,663,467
Total stockholders' equity (Note 2)	1,718,870	1,721,269	1,663,467
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,256,506	2,181,772	2,217,090
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	7,478	6,778	4,283	3,430
Restricted cash	1,057	657	758
Trade receivables, net	917	783	756
Inventories, net	254	232	238
Other current assets	350	277	289
Total current assets	10,056	8,727	6,324
Property, plant and equipment, net	47,500	48,773	46,915
Intangible assets, net	18,155	18,155	18,155
Other assets	4,551	4,701	4,736
Advances	(4,796)	(7,837)	(4,524)
Total assets	75,466	72,519	71,606
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	6,636	2,677	2,461
Long-term debt due within one year	208	197	197
Total current liabilities	6,844	2,874	2,658
Long-term debt	57,958	58,166	58,166
Other long-term liabilities	1,340	1,345	1,615
Total Vail Resorts, Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit)	(4,657)	(3,862)	(5,097)
Noncontrolling interests	13,981	13,996	14,264
Total stockholders' equity (Note 2)	9,324	10,134	9,167
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	75,466	72,519	71,606
Eliminating Entries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Investments in subsidiaries	(1,714,213)	(1,717,407)	(1,658,370)
Total assets	(1,714,213)	(1,717,407)	(1,658,370)
Total Vail Resorts, Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit)	(1,714,213)	(1,717,407)	(1,658,370)
Total stockholders' equity (Note 2)	(1,714,213)	(1,717,407)	(1,658,370)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (1,714,213)	$ (1,717,407)	$ (1,658,370)