Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Apr. 02, 2017	Apr. 03, 2016
Sale Leaseback Transaction, Payments, Financing Activities	$ 570	$ 474

Sale Leaseback Transaction, Payments, Financing Activities

No definition available.

Name:	cec_SaleLeasebackTransactionPaymentsFinancingActivities
Namespace Prefix:	cec_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration