| **Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $)** | Oct. 31, 2012entities |
|--------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| Employee Housing Entities [Member]               |                  |
| Number of Variable Interest Entities             | 4                     |
| Carrying amount of consolidated VIE assets       | $ 30,400,000          |
| Carrying amount of consolidated VIE liabilities  | 62,900,000            |
| Amount outstanding in letters of credit          | 53,400,000            |
| Avon Partners II LLC [Member]                    |                  |
| Carrying amount of consolidated VIE assets       | 4,600,000             |
| Carrying amount of consolidated VIE liabilities  | $ 0                   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number of Variable Interest Entities
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**mtn_NumberOfVariableInterestEntities**Namespace Prefix:**mtn_**Data Type:**xbrli:decimalItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (bb) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7880789&loc=d3e5710-111685
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's liabilities included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (bb) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7880789&loc=d3e5710-111685
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |