| **Net Income Per Common Share**                  | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
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| **Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Net Income Per Common Share                      | Net Loss Per Common ShareBasic earnings per share (“EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net loss attributable to Vail Resorts stockholders by the weighted-average shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised, resulting in the issuance of shares of common stock that would then share in the earnings of Vail Resorts. Presented below is basic and diluted EPS for the three months ended October 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands, except per share amounts):   Three Months Ended October 31,  2012 2011  Basic Diluted Basic DilutedNet loss per share:        Net loss attributable to Vail Resorts $(60,580) $(60,580) $(55,709) $(55,709)Weighted-average shares outstanding 35,700 35,700 36,066 36,066Effect of dilutive securities — — — —Total shares 35,700 35,700 36,066 36,066Net loss per share attributable to Vail Resorts $(1.70) $(1.70) $(1.54) $(1.54)The Company computes the effect of dilutive securities using the treasury stock method and average market prices during the period. The number of shares issuable on the exercise of share based awards that were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share because the effect of their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive totaled 1.4 million and 1.5 million for the three months ended October 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.On June 7, 2011 the Company’s Board of Directors approved the commencement of a regular quarterly cash dividend on the Company's common stock at an annual rate of $0.60 per share, subject to quarterly declaration. On March 5, 2012 the Company’s Board of Directors approved a 25% increase to the annual cash dividend to an annual rate of $0.75 per share, subject to quarterly declaration. The Company paid cash dividends of $0.1875 per share and $0.15 per share ($6.7 million and $5.4 million in the aggregate) during the three months ended October 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. On November 30, 2012 the Company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1875 per share payable on December 27, 2012 to stockholders of record as of December 19, 2012. |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for earnings per share.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7655603&loc=d3e1252-109256Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 52 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16381557&loc=d3e4984-109258Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7655603&loc=d3e1278-109256Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 40 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.21) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688
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