Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Rental properties, net	$ 1,819,176		$ 2,020,191
Rental properties held for sale, net	4,696		6,432
Land held for development	184,457		184,457
Property under development	22,761		5,967
Mortgage notes and related accrued interest receivable, net	325,097		305,404
Investments in direct financing leases, net	233,619	21,000	226,433
Investment in joint ventures	25,053		22,010
Cash and cash equivalents	14,625		11,776	23,138	50,082
Restricted cash	19,312		16,279
Intangible assets, net	4,485		35,644
Deferred financing costs, net	18,527		20,371
Accounts receivable, net	35,005		39,814
Intercompany notes receivable	0		0
Notes receivable and related accrued interest receivable, net	5,015		5,127
Investments in subsidiaries	0		0
Other assets	22,167		23,515
Total assets	2,733,995		2,923,420
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	36,036		56,488
Dividends payable	38,711		37,804
Unearned rents and interest	6,850		6,691
Intercompany notes payable	0		0
Long-term debt	1,154,295		1,191,179
Total liabilities	1,235,892		1,292,162
Entertainment Properties Trust shareholders' equity	1,470,049		1,603,239
Noncontrolling interests	28,054		28,019
Equity	1,498,103		1,631,258	1,467,957	1,292,651
Total liabilities and equity	2,733,995		2,923,420
Entertainment Properties Trust (Issuer) [Member]
Rental properties, net	0		0
Rental properties held for sale, net	0		0
Land held for development	0		0
Property under development	0		0
Mortgage notes and related accrued interest receivable, net	0		0
Investments in direct financing leases, net	0		0
Investment in joint ventures	20,821		19,159
Cash and cash equivalents	1,932		3,356	13,567	41,010
Restricted cash	0		25
Intangible assets, net	0		0
Deferred financing costs, net	9,291		9,576
Accounts receivable, net	79		110
Intercompany notes receivable	100,030		227,141
Notes receivable and related accrued interest receivable, net	175		168
Investments in subsidiaries	1,627,298		1,634,257
Other assets	14,694		15,887
Total assets	1,774,320		1,909,679
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	15,560		18,636
Dividends payable	38,711		37,804
Unearned rents and interest	0		0
Intercompany notes payable	0		0
Long-term debt	250,000		250,000
Total liabilities	304,271		306,440
Entertainment Properties Trust shareholders' equity	1,470,049		1,603,239
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Equity	1,470,049		1,603,239
Total liabilities and equity	1,774,320		1,909,679
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Rental properties, net	694,331		807,891
Rental properties held for sale, net	0		0
Land held for development	0		0
Property under development	18,295		0
Mortgage notes and related accrued interest receivable, net	323,794		305,404
Investments in direct financing leases, net	233,619		226,433
Investment in joint ventures	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents	302		1,116	108	56
Restricted cash	9,871		7,287
Intangible assets, net	0		29,829
Deferred financing costs, net	6,512		5,011
Accounts receivable, net	6,051		9,067
Intercompany notes receivable	0		0
Notes receivable and related accrued interest receivable, net	0		0
Investments in subsidiaries	0		0
Other assets	3,453		3,625
Total assets	1,296,228		1,395,663
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	8,794		26,251
Dividends payable	0		0
Unearned rents and interest	5,405		5,079
Intercompany notes payable	0		132,067
Long-term debt	223,000		142,000
Total liabilities	237,199		305,397
Entertainment Properties Trust shareholders' equity	1,059,029		1,090,266
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Equity	1,059,029		1,090,266
Total liabilities and equity	1,296,228		1,395,663
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Rental properties, net	1,124,845		1,212,300
Rental properties held for sale, net	4,696		6,432
Land held for development	184,457		184,457
Property under development	4,466		5,967
Mortgage notes and related accrued interest receivable, net	1,303		0
Investments in direct financing leases, net	0		0
Investment in joint ventures	4,232		2,851
Cash and cash equivalents	12,391		7,304	9,463	9,016
Restricted cash	9,441		8,967
Intangible assets, net	4,485		5,815
Deferred financing costs, net	2,724		5,784
Accounts receivable, net	28,875		30,637
Intercompany notes receivable	3,788		28,649
Notes receivable and related accrued interest receivable, net	4,840		4,959
Investments in subsidiaries	0		0
Other assets	4,020		4,003
Total assets	1,394,563		1,508,125
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	11,682		11,601
Dividends payable	0		0
Unearned rents and interest	1,445		1,612
Intercompany notes payable	103,818		123,723
Long-term debt	681,295		799,179
Total liabilities	798,240		936,115
Entertainment Properties Trust shareholders' equity	568,269		543,991
Noncontrolling interests	28,054		28,019
Equity	596,323		572,010
Total liabilities and equity	1,394,563		1,508,125
Consolidated Elimination [Member]
Rental properties, net	0		0
Rental properties held for sale, net	0		0
Land held for development	0		0
Property under development	0		0
Mortgage notes and related accrued interest receivable, net	0		0
Investments in direct financing leases, net	0		0
Investment in joint ventures	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Restricted cash	0		0
Intangible assets, net	0		0
Deferred financing costs, net	0		0
Accounts receivable, net	0		0
Intercompany notes receivable	(103,818)		(255,790)
Notes receivable and related accrued interest receivable, net	0		0
Investments in subsidiaries	(1,627,298)		(1,634,257)
Other assets	0		0
Total assets	(1,731,116)		(1,890,047)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	0		0
Dividends payable	0		0
Unearned rents and interest	0		0
Intercompany notes payable	(103,818)		(255,790)
Long-term debt	0		0
Total liabilities	(103,818)		(255,790)
Entertainment Properties Trust shareholders' equity	(1,627,298)		(1,634,257)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Equity	(1,627,298)		(1,634,257)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (1,731,116)		$ (1,890,047)