Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2017
Jan. 31, 2016
Jan. 31, 2017
Jan. 31, 2016
Jul. 31, 2016
Total Mountain net revenue $ 654,099 $ 532,872 $ 764,866 $ 633,805  
Lodging 65,884 62,807 133,286 127,093  
Total Resort net revenue 719,983 595,679 898,152 760,898  
Real estate 5,215 3,684 5,311 13,032  
Total net revenue 725,198 599,363 903,463 773,930  
Mountain 355,239 296,256 523,492 447,414  
Lodging 59,683 57,311 123,763 118,748  
Total Resort operating expense 414,922 353,567 647,255 566,162  
Real estate 5,841 4,617 7,326 13,958  
Total segment operating expense 420,763 358,184 654,581 580,120  
Gain on sale of real property 0 632 6,466 1,791  
Mountain equity investment income (loss), net 157 (61) 989 781  
Total Reported EBITDA 304,592 241,750 256,337 196,382  
Real estate held for sale and investment 112,633 117,999 112,633 117,999 $ 111,088
Depreciation and amortization (49,626) (40,541) (90,207) (79,241)  
Change in estimated fair value of contingent consideration (Note 7) (300) 0 (600) 0  
Loss on disposal of fixed assets and other, net (2,231) (1,206) (2,781) (2,985)  
Investment income and other, net 1,148 161 5,671 359  
Interest expense and other, net (9,048) (10,910) (21,012) (21,505)  
Income before provision for income taxes 244,535 189,254 147,408 93,010  
Provision for income taxes (84,807) (72,383) (51,298) (35,809)  
Net income 159,728 116,871 96,110 57,201  
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (10,549) 111 (9,518) 194  
Net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. 149,179 116,982 86,592 57,395  
Lift Tickets [Member]          
Total Mountain net revenue 358,251 287,685 379,677 307,838  
Ski School [Member]          
Total Mountain net revenue 78,119 62,040 81,970 65,424  
Dining [Member]          
Total Mountain net revenue 54,366 44,738 67,734 57,093  
Retail/Rental [Member]          
Total Mountain net revenue 123,233 102,975 159,712 135,364  
Other [Member]          
Total Mountain net revenue 40,130 35,434 75,773 68,086  
Resort [Member]          
Total Reported EBITDA 305,218 242,051 251,886 195,517  
Mountain [Member]          
Total Reported EBITDA 299,017 236,555 242,363 187,172  
Lodging [Member]          
Total Reported EBITDA 6,201 5,496 9,523 8,345  
Real Estate [Member]          
Total Reported EBITDA $ (626) $ (301) $ 4,451 $ 865