<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000812011-03-000015
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030729
<FILING-DATE>20030730
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>VAIL RESORTS INC
<CIK>0000812011
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7990
<IRS-NUMBER>510291762
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0731
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>137 BENCHMARK ROAD
<STREET2>C/O ANACONDA TOWER
<CITY>AVON
<STATE>CO
<ZIP>81620
<PHONE>9708452950
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>137 BENCHMARK ROAD
<CITY>AVON
<STATE>CO
<ZIP>81620
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ARON ADAM M
<CIK>0001032673
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-09614
<FILM-NUMBER>03812381
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>VAIL RESORTS INC
<STREET2>PO BOX 7
<CITY>VAIL
<STATE>CO
<ZIP>81658
<PHONE>9704765601
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>VAIL RESORTS INC
<STREET2>PO BOX 7
<CITY>VAIL
<STATE>CO
<ZIP>89658
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-29</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000812011</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VAIL RESORTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MTN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001032673</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARON ADAM M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VAIL RESORTS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 7</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VAIL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>81658</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-07-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>172500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.9</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>208050</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-07-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>86250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.9</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>121800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Adam Aron</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
