Discontinued Operations - Schedule of Disconnected Operations, Income Statement (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income from discontinued operations	$ (148)	$ 15,238
Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	(2,668)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Viad	(148)	12,570
Glacier Park
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue		0
Costs and expenses		(68)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, before income taxes		(68)
Income tax (expense) benefit		20
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		(48)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax		15,286
Income from discontinued operations		15,238
Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interest		(2,668)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Viad		$ 12,570

Amount of gain (loss), after tax expense or benefit and not previously recognized, resulting from the sale of a business component.

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Pretax income (loss) from operations of a business component (exclusive of any gain (loss) on disposal, or provision therefore) during the reporting period, until its disposal.

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After tax income (loss) from operations of a business component (exclusive of any gain (loss) on disposal, or provision therefore) during the reporting period, until its disposal.

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Income tax expense or benefit attributable to Income or Loss from discontinued operations during the phase-out period.

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Amount of sales or other form of revenues attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

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Amount of income (loss) from a disposal group, net of income tax before extraordinary items allocable to noncontrolling interests. Includes, net of tax, income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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This element represents the overall income (loss) from a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items, which is apportioned to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This item includes the following (net of tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Amount of income (loss) from a disposal group, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items after deduction or consideration of the amount allocable to noncontrolling interests. Includes, net of tax, income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Costs and Expenses

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