Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Summary Of Changes In Stockholders Equity) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014
Balance, beginning of period			$ 834,800	$ 837,869
Net (loss) income	115,700us-gaap_ProfitLoss	59,200us-gaap_ProfitLoss	51,376us-gaap_ProfitLoss	(14,237)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Stock-based compensation expense			8,226us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	7,054us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Issuance of shares under share award plan net of shares withheld for taxes			(3,705)	(4,877)
Tax benefit from share award plan			3,241	3,240
Cash dividends paid on common stock			(30,141)us-gaap_DividendsCommonStock	(14,986)us-gaap_DividendsCommonStock
Contributions (distributions) from/to noncontrolling interests, net			112	113
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(307)	(130)	(447)	(119)
Balance, end of period	863,462	814,057	863,462	814,057
Total Vail Resorts, Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Balance, beginning of period			820,843	823,868
Net (loss) income			51,486	(14,113)
Stock-based compensation expense			8,226	7,054
Issuance of shares under share award plan net of shares withheld for taxes			(3,705)	(4,877)
Tax benefit from share award plan			3,241	3,240
Cash dividends paid on common stock			(30,141)	(14,986)
Contributions (distributions) from/to noncontrolling interests, net			0	0
Balance, end of period	849,503	800,067	849,503	800,067
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balance, beginning of period			13,957	14,001
Net (loss) income			(110)	(124)
Stock-based compensation expense			0	0
Issuance of shares under share award plan net of shares withheld for taxes			0	0
Tax benefit from share award plan			0	0
Cash dividends paid on common stock			0	0
Contributions (distributions) from/to noncontrolling interests, net			112	113
Foreign currency translation adjustments			0	0
Balance, end of period	$ 13,959	$ 13,990	$ 13,959	$ 13,990

Amount of increase in additional paid in capital (APIC) resulting from a tax benefit associated with share-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Includes, but is not limited to, excess tax benefit.

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