| **Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)**  | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
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| **Accounting Policies [Abstract]**                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Schedule of Changes in Total Stockholders Equity         | The following table summarizes the changes in total stockholders’ equity (in thousands):   For the Nine Months Ended April 30,  2013 2012  Vail ResortsStockholders’Equity NoncontrollingInterests TotalStockholders' Equity Vail ResortsStockholders’Equity NoncontrollingInterests TotalStockholders' EquityBalance, beginning of period $802,311 $14,017 $816,328 $829,723 $13,996 $843,719Net income (loss) 97,611 (97) 97,514 70,250 (34) 70,216Stock-based compensation expense 9,544 — 9,544 9,349 — 9,349Issuance of shares under share award plans, net of shares withheld for taxes (3,832) — (3,832) (2,661) — (2,661)Tax benefit from share award plans 3,768 — 3,768 1,442 — 1,442Cash dividends paid on common stock (20,905) — (20,905) (17,559) — (17,559)Repurchases of common stock — — — (7,869) — (7,869)Contributions from noncontrolling interests, net — 62 62 — 30 30Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax 251 — 251 61 — 61Balance, end of period $888,748 $13,982 $902,730 $882,736 $13,992 $896,728 |
| Summary Of Estimated Fair Value Of Financial Instruments | The estimated fair values of the 6.50% Notes, Industrial Development Bonds and other long-term debt as of April 30, 2013 are presented below (in thousands):   April 30, 2013  CarryingValue FairValue6.50% Notes $390,000 $420,713Industrial Development Bonds $41,200 $48,644Other long-term debt $5,983 $6,696                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |

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| - Definition
Schedule of Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Table Text Block]
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No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of changes in the separate accounts comprising stockholders' equity (in addition to retained earnings) and of the changes in the number of shares of equity securities during at least the most recent annual fiscal period and any subsequent interim period presented is required to make the financial statements sufficiently informative if both financial position and results of operations are presented.
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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644
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