Page 1 of 11 Pages

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               (Amendment No. 17)*

                               VAIL RESORTS, INC.
              -----------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  COMMON STOCK
              -----------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    91879Q109
              -----------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                     Linda S. Martinson, Esq. (212) 583-2000
                767 Fifth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10153
              -----------------------------------------------------
                  (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
                Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                December 5, 2003
              -----------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously  filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the  acquisition  which is the subject of this  Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box [ ].

Check the following  box if a fee is being paid with this  statement [ ]. (A fee
is not required only if the filing person:  (1) has a previous statement on file
reporting  beneficial  ownership  of more  than  five  percent  of the  class of
securities  described  in Item 1;  and (2) has  filed  no  amendment  subsequent
thereto reporting  beneficial  ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7.)

*The  remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for  any  subsequent   amendment   containing   information  which  would  alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).


                                                    SEC 1746 (12-91)

Amendment Number 17 to Schedule 13D (continued) CUSIP No. 91879Q109 Page 2 of 11 Pages - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Baron Capital Group, Inc. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 SEC USE ONLY - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS OO - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(C) OR 2(E) [ ] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 0 BENEFICIALLY ------------------------------------------------------------ OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH 6,907,650 REPORTING ------------------------------------------------------------ PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER WITH 0 ------------------------------------------------------------ 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 6,964,250 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 6,964,250 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 25.0% - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* HC, CO - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

Amendment Number 17 to Schedule 13D (continued) CUSIP No. 91879Q109 Page 3 of 11 Pages - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON BAMCO, Inc. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 SEC USE ONLY - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS OO - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(C) OR 2(E) [ ] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 0 BENEFICIALLY ------------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH 6,525,000 REPORTING ------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER WITH 0 ------------------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 6,570,000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 6,570,000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 23.6% - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* IA, CO - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

Amendment Number 17 to Schedule 13D (continued) CUSIP No. 91879Q109 Page 4 of 11 Pages - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Baron Capital Management, Inc. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 SEC USE ONLY - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS OO - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(C) OR 2(E) [ ] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 0 BENEFICIALLY ------------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH 382,650 REPORTING ------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER WITH 0 ------------------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 394,250 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 394,250 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 1.4% - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* IA, CO - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

Amendment Number 17 to Schedule 13D (continued) CUSIP No. 91879Q109 Page 5 of 11 Pages - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Baron Asset Fund - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 SEC USE ONLY - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS OO - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(C) OR 2(E) [ ] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 0 BENEFICIALLY ------------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH 5,115,000 REPORTING ------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER WITH 0 ------------------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 5,115,000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 5,115,000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 18.4% - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* IV, OO - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

Amendment Number 17 to Schedule 13D (continued) CUSIP No. 91879Q109 Page 6 of 11 Pages - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Ronald Baron - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 SEC USE ONLY - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS OO - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(C) OR 2(E) [ ] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION USA - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 0 BENEFICIALLY ------------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH 6,907,650 REPORTING ------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER WITH 0 ------------------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 6,964,250 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 6,964,250 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 25.0% - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* IN - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

Page 7 of 11 Pages Item 1. Security and Issuer (a) Name of Issuer: Vail Resorts, Inc. (b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: P.O. Box 7 Vail, CO 81658 (c) Title and Class of Securities: Common Item 2. Identity and Background (a) Name: Baron Capital Group, Inc. ("BCG") BAMCO, Inc. ("BAMCO") Baron Capital Management, Inc. ("BCM") Baron Asset Fund ("BAF") Ronald Baron (b) Business Address: 767 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10153 (c) Present Principal Business or Employment: BCG: Holding company BAMCO: Investment adviser BCM: Investment adviser BAF: Registered investment company Ronald Baron: CEO: BCG, BAMCO, BCM; BAF 767 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10153 (d) Record of Convictions: No material change. (e) Record of Civil Proceedings: No material change. (f) Citizenship: No material change. Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration No material change.

Page 8 of 11 Pages Item 4. Purpose of Transaction No material change. Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer (a) Amount and percentage beneficially owned*: BCG: 6,964,250 25.0% BAMCO: 6,570,000 23.6% BCM: 394,250 1.4% BAF: 5,115,000 18.4% Ronald Baron: 6,964,250 25.0% (b) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) sole power to vote or direct the vote: BCG: 0 BAMCO: 0 BCM: 0 BAF: 0 Ronald Baron: 0 (ii) shared power to vote or direct the vote: BCG: 6,907,650 BAMCO: 6,525,000 BCM: 382,650 BAF: 5,115,000 Ronald Baron: 6,907,650 (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition: BCG: 0 BAMCO: 0 BCM: 0 BAF: 0 Ronald Baron: 0 (iv) shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: BCG: 6,964,250 BAMCO: 6,570,000 BCM: 394,250 BAF: 5,115,000 Ronald Baron: 6,964,250 *Reporting Persons may be deemed to share power to vote and dispose of shares referred to herein as a result of control relationships (BCG and Ronald Baron with respect to all of the shares; BAMCO with respect to the BAF shares) and pursuant to investment advisory relationships with advisory clients. Reporting Persons disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares for which they share power. (c) A schedule of transactions effected in the last fifteen days is attached hereto.

Page 9 of 11 Pages (d) Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person: No material change. (e) Ownership of Less than Five Percent: Not applicable. Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer No material change. Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits Exhibit 99 - 15 days of trading. Signature After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: December 15, 2003 Baron Capital Group, Inc., BAMCO, Inc., Baron Capital Management, Inc. and Baron Asset Fund By: /s/ Ronald Baron _______________________________________ Ronald Baron, Chairman and CEO

Vail Resorts
Transaction Schedule
From 11-27-03 To 12-12-03

                                                               Exec.
      Date         Account ID     Activity     Quantity        Price
    --------      ------------   ----------   ----------     ---------

   11/28/2003        bamco           sl             10,000       15.3000
   11/28/2003        bamco           sl              8,500       15.3000
   12/01/2003        bamco           sl             20,000       15.2500
   12/01/2003        bamco           sl             25,000       15.3300
   12/02/2003        bamco           sl              1,000       15.5700
   12/02/2003        bamco           sl             24,000       15.5662
   12/03/2003        bamco           sl             15,000       15.6500
   12/03/2003        bamco           sl             25,000       15.6000
   12/04/2003        bamco           sl             25,000       16.0000
   12/05/2003        bamco           sl             19,100       16.7238
   12/05/2003        bamco           sl             35,000       16.2529
   12/08/2003        bamco           sl              3,400       16.5600
   12/08/2003        bamco           sl             27,500       16.5500
   12/09/2003        bamco           sl            150,000       16.5200
   12/10/2003        bamco           sl             17,000       16.1394
   12/10/2003        bamco           sl             30,000       16.1200
   12/11/2003        bamco           sl             13,000       16.8502
   12/11/2003        bamco           sl             40,000       16.7892
   12/12/2003        bamco           sl             35,000       17.2129