Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Rental properties, net	$ 1,833,893		$ 1,819,176
Rental properties held for sale, net	3,895		4,696
Land held for development	188,874		184,457
Property under development	40,141		22,761
Mortgage notes and related accrued interest receivable, net	403,619		325,097
Investments in direct financing leases, net	236,157		233,619
Investment in joint ventures	10,577		25,053
Cash and cash equivalents	12,739	12,739	14,625	15,740	15,740	11,776
Restricted cash	19,165		19,312
Intangible assets, net	3,871		4,485
Deferred financing costs, net	18,452		18,527
Accounts receivable, net	33,138		35,005
Intercompany notes receivable	0		0
Notes receivable and related accrued interest receivable, net	5,007		5,015
Investments in subsidiaries	0		0
Other assets	24,139		22,167
Total assets	2,833,667		2,733,995
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	37,485		36,036
Dividends payable	41,130		38,711
Unearned rents and interest	11,982		6,850
Intercompany notes payable	0		0
Long-term debt	1,270,560		1,154,295
Total liabilities	1,361,157		1,235,892
Entertainment Properties Trust shareholders' equity	1,472,204		1,470,049
Noncontrolling interests	306		28,054
Equity	1,472,510		1,498,103			1,498,103
Total liabilities and equity	2,833,667		2,733,995
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	6,205		20,821
Cash and cash equivalents	3,432	3,432	1,932		2,702	3,356
Restricted cash	0		0
Intangible assets, net	0		0
Deferred financing costs, net	10,711		9,291
Accounts receivable, net	1,009		79
Intercompany notes receivable	101,274		100,030
Notes receivable and related accrued interest receivable, net	179		175
Investments in subsidiaries	1,890,473		1,627,298
Other assets	14,068		14,694
Total assets	2,027,351		1,774,320
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	24,017		15,560
Dividends payable	41,130		38,711
Unearned rents and interest	0		0
Intercompany notes payable	0		0
Long-term debt	490,000		250,000
Total liabilities	555,147		304,271
Entertainment Properties Trust shareholders' equity	1,472,204		1,470,049
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Equity	1,472,204		1,470,049
Total liabilities and equity	2,027,351		1,774,320
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Rental properties, net	747,359		694,331
Rental properties held for sale, net	0		0
Land held for development	0		0
Property under development	35,475		18,295
Mortgage notes and related accrued interest receivable, net	371,237		323,794
Investments in direct financing leases, net	236,157		233,619
Investment in joint ventures	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents	60	60	302		856	1,116
Restricted cash	11,673		9,871
Intangible assets, net	0		0
Deferred financing costs, net	5,643		6,512
Accounts receivable, net	7,383		6,051
Intercompany notes receivable	0		0
Notes receivable and related accrued interest receivable, net	0		0
Investments in subsidiaries	0		0
Other assets	3,333		3,453
Total assets	1,418,320		1,296,228
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	8,614		8,794
Dividends payable	0		0
Unearned rents and interest	10,353		5,405
Intercompany notes payable	0		0
Long-term debt	112,000		223,000
Total liabilities	130,967		237,199
Entertainment Properties Trust shareholders' equity	1,287,353		1,059,029
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Equity	1,287,353		1,059,029
Total liabilities and equity	1,418,320		1,296,228
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Rental properties, net	1,086,534		1,124,845
Rental properties held for sale, net	3,895		4,696
Land held for development	188,874		184,457
Property under development	4,666		4,466
Mortgage notes and related accrued interest receivable, net	32,382		1,303
Investments in direct financing leases, net	0		0
Investment in joint ventures	4,372		4,232
Cash and cash equivalents	9,247	9,247	12,391		12,182	7,304
Restricted cash	7,492		9,441
Intangible assets, net	3,871		4,485
Deferred financing costs, net	2,098		2,724
Accounts receivable, net	24,746		28,875
Intercompany notes receivable	3,966		3,788
Notes receivable and related accrued interest receivable, net	4,828		4,840
Investments in subsidiaries	0		0
Other assets	6,738		4,020
Total assets	1,383,709		1,394,563
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	4,854		11,682
Dividends payable	0		0
Unearned rents and interest	1,629		1,445
Intercompany notes payable	105,240		103,818
Long-term debt	668,560		681,295
Total liabilities	780,283		798,240
Entertainment Properties Trust shareholders' equity	603,120		568,269
Noncontrolling interests	306		28,054
Equity	603,426		596,323
Total liabilities and equity	1,383,709		1,394,563
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	(105,240)		(103,818)
Notes receivable and related accrued interest receivable, net	0		0
Investments in subsidiaries	(1,890,473)		(1,627,298)
Other assets	0		0
Total assets	(1,995,713)		(1,731,116)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	0		0
Dividends payable	0		0
Unearned rents and interest	0		0
Intercompany notes payable	(105,240)		(103,818)
Long-term debt	0		0
Total liabilities	(105,240)		(103,818)
Entertainment Properties Trust shareholders' equity	(1,890,473)		(1,627,298)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Equity	(1,890,473)		(1,627,298)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (1,995,713)		$ (1,731,116)
Senoir Unsecured Notes Payable, 7.75 Percent, Due July 15, 2020 [Member]
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Fixed Interest, Percentage Rate	7.75%