Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2016
Jan. 31, 2015
Jan. 31, 2016
Jan. 31, 2015
Jul. 31, 2015
Total Mountain net revenue $ 532,872 $ 463,031 $ 633,805 $ 523,417  
Lodging 62,807 59,364 127,093 117,857  
Total Resort net revenue 595,679 522,395 760,898 641,274  
Real Estate 3,684 7,842 13,032 17,225  
Total net revenue 599,363 530,237 773,930 658,499  
Mountain 296,256 268,966 447,414 400,918  
Lodging 57,311 53,927 118,748 111,681  
Total Resort operating expense 353,567 322,893 566,162 512,599  
Real estate 4,617 9,871 13,958 21,485  
Total segment operating expense 358,184 332,764 580,120 534,084  
Gain (Loss) Related to Litigation Settlement 0 0 0 16,400  
Gain on sale of real property 632 0 1,791 0  
Mountain equity investment income, net (61) 200 781 525  
Total Reported EBITDA 241,750 197,673 196,382 141,340  
Real estate held for sale and investment 117,999 151,103 117,999 151,103 $ 129,825
Depreciation and amortization (40,541) (37,376) (79,241) (73,345)  
Change in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration 0 0 0 4,550  
Loss on disposal of fixed assets, net (1,206) (26) (2,985) (781)  
Investment income, net 161 62 359 36  
Interest expense, net (10,910) (13,807) (21,505) (27,375)  
Income (loss) before (provision) benefit from income taxes 189,254 146,526 93,010 44,425  
(Provision) benefit from income taxes (72,383) (30,826) (35,809) 6,951  
Net income (loss) 116,871 115,700 57,201 51,376  
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests 111 62 194 110  
Net income (loss) attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. 116,982 115,762 57,395 51,486  
Lift Tickets [Member]          
Total Mountain net revenue 287,685 239,288 307,838 239,288  
Ski School [Member]          
Total Mountain net revenue 62,040 57,295 65,424 57,295  
Dining [Member]          
Total Mountain net revenue 44,738 38,619 57,093 46,658  
Retail/Rental [Member]          
Total Mountain net revenue 102,975 95,012 135,364 124,485  
Other [Member]          
Total Mountain net revenue 35,434 32,817 68,086 55,691  
Resort [Member]          
Total Reported EBITDA 242,051 199,702 195,517 145,600  
Mountain [Member]          
Total Reported EBITDA 236,555 194,265 187,172 139,424  
Lodging [Member]          
Total Reported EBITDA 5,496 5,437 8,345 6,176  
Real Estate [Member]          
Total Reported EBITDA $ (301) $ (2,029) $ 865 $ (4,260)