XML 61 R41.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT ﻿
v2.3.0.11

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jul. 31, 2011 | Apr. 30, 2011 | Jan. 31, 2011 | Oct. 31, 2010 | Jul. 31, 2010 | Apr. 30, 2010 | Jan. 31, 2010 | Oct. 31, 2009 | Jul. 31, 2011 years | Jul. 31, 2010 | Jul. 31, 2009
Interest rate charged on past due accounts | 18.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18.00% |  |
Minimum period (in years) to capitalize interest cost |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |
Cost required to capitalize interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000 |  |
Carrying amount of real estate sold |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 33,000,000 |  |
Average estimated useful life (in years) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 |  |
Interest capitalized on real estate development |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 500,000 | 15,100,000 | 6,800,000
Impairment to goodwill or intangible assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Average remaining period (in years) for initiation fees recognized |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 22 |  |
Refundable period (in years) for initiation fees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 |  |
Revenue recorded under percentage-of-completion method |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 1,500,000
Lodging expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 205,903,000 | 192,909,000 | 196,847,000
Revenue and expenses from payroll cost reimbursement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 28,600,000 |  |
Lodging operating expense prior to revision for reimbursement of payroll costs for previously reported amounts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 166,700,000 | 169,500,000
Lodging net revenue prior to revision for reimbursement of payroll costs for previously reported amounts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 169,100,000 | 176,200,000
Lodging revenue | 54,388,000 | 57,477,000 | 51,676,000 | 51,117,000 | 51,322,000 | 51,880,000 | 44,802,000 | 47,297,000 | 214,658,000 | 195,301,000 | 203,606,000
Charges for affordable housing commitment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,800,000
Advertising expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20,300,000 | 18,800,000 | 17,900,000
Prepaid advertising costs | 200,000 |  |  |  | 300,000 |  |  |  | 200,000 | 300,000 |
Stated percentage in the debt instrument | 6.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.50% |  |
Construction Projects [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest capitalized |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 100,000 | $ 1,100,000 | $ 800,000

X
- Definition Lodging net revenue before revision of payroll cost reimbursement. + Details
Name: | mtn_AnnualLodgingNetRevenueBeforeRevisionOfPayrollCostReimbursement
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Lodging operating expense before revision of payroll cost reimbursement. + Details
Name: | mtn_AnnualLodgingOperatingExpenseBeforeRevisionOfPayrollCostReimbursement
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The original average estimated useful life of certain assets being used in resort operations that were constructed as amenities in conjunction with real estate development. + Details
Name: | mtn_AverageEstimatedUsefulLifeOfCertainConstructedAssetsUsedAsAmenities
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Expense charged during the period for an affordable housing commitment. + Details
Name: | mtn_ExpenseRecognizedForHousingCommitment
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of interest that was capitalized during the period on non-real estate construction projects. + Details
Name: | mtn_InterestCostsCapitalizedNonRealEstateProjects
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Costs incurred that are directly related to generating lodging revenues, including labor and labor-related benefits and general and administrative expenses. + Details
Name: | mtn_LodgingExpensesNet
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Revenue generated from owned and managed hotels and condominiums, transportation, golf and other activities. + Details
Name: | mtn_LodgingRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Interest Rate charged on past due trade accounts receivables. + Details
Name: | mtn_PastDueAccountsReceivableInterestRate
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Recognized private club initiation fees, average remaining period. + Details
Name: | mtn_PrivateClubRecognizedInitiationFeesAverageRemainingPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Private club recognized initiation fees, refund period. + Details
Name: | mtn_PrivateClubRecognizedInitiationFeesRefundPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Threshold for capitalizing interest on non-real estate construction projects. + Details
Name: | mtn_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMinimumCostForInterestCapitalization
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Company's policy for capitalizing interest on non-real estate construction projects. + Details
Name: | mtn_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMinimumInterestCapitalizationPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of interest costs capitalized during the period on real estate development projects. + Details
Name: | mtn_RealEstateInventoryCapitalizedInterestCostsGross
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Revenue and expenses relating to reimbursed payroll costs of managed hotel properties where the Company is the employer. + Details
Name: | mtn_RevenueAndExpensesFromPayrollCostReimbursement
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Revenue Recorded Under Percentage of Completion Method + Details
Name: | mtn_RevenueRecordedUnderPercentageOfCompletionMethod
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The original cost of certain assets being used in resort operations that were constructed as amenities in conjunction with real estate development. + Details
Name: | mtn_ThecarryingAmountOfCertainConstructedAssetsUsedAsAmenities
Namespace Prefix: | mtn
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 93-7 -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 720 -SubTopic 35 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420018&loc=d3e36677-107848 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total loss recognized during the period from the impairment of goodwill plus the loss recognized in the period resulting from the impairment of the carrying amount of intangible assets, other than goodwill. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of amounts paid in advance for advertising airtime or print media advertising space for which the advertising associated with the payment will air or appear in print within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Also includes direct-response advertising reported as assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 340 -SubTopic 10 -Section 05 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386993&loc=d3e5879-108316 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 43 -Section A -Paragraph 4 -Chapter 3 -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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 340 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6387501&loc=d3e8275-108329 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (g)(6) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6361293&loc=d3e6676-107765 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 93-7 -Paragraph 49 -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 340 -SubTopic 10 -Section 05 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386993&loc=d3e5865-108316 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Current Assets -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509628 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 720 -SubTopic 35 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420018&loc=d3e36677-107848 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6361293&loc=d3e6787-107765 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PrepaidAdvertising
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant