| **Stock Repurchase Plan (Details) (USD $)In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified** | Jul. 31, 2014 | Jul. 31, 2013 | Jul. 16, 2008 | Mar. 09, 2006 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| **Payments for Repurchase of Equity [Abstract]**                                                       |          |          |          |          |
| Number of shares authorized to repurchase                                                              |          |          |          | 3,000,000     |
| Additional number of shares authorized to repurchase                                                   |          |          | 3,000,000     |          |
| Number of shares repurchased since inception                                                           | 4,949,111     | 4,949,111     |          |          |
| Value of stock repurchased since inception                                                             | $ (193,192)   | $ (193,192)   |          |          |
| Remaining shares available for repurchase under existing program                                       | 1,050,889     |          |          |          |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Stock Repurchase Program, Additional Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**mtn_StockRepurchaseProgramAdditionalNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased**Namespace Prefix:**mtn_**Data Type:**xbrli:sharesItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                         |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfEquityAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:sharesItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The remaining number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:sharesItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number of common and preferred shares that were previously issued and that were repurchased by the issuing entity and held in treasury on the financial statement date. This stock has no voting rights and receives no dividends.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.28,29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29, 30 -Article 5
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount allocated to treasury stock. Treasury stock is common and preferred shares of an entity that were issued, repurchased by the entity, and are held in its treasury.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405834&loc=d3e23315-112656
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