Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 92,330	$ 74,643
Acquisition of rental properties and other assets	(38,924)	(126,221)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(2,784)	(15,181)
Cash paid related to Cappelli settlement		4,586
Investment in mortgage notes receivable	(6,036)	(5,247)
Investment in direct financing lease, net	(2,113)	(44,232)
Additions to properties under development	(18,437)	(1,695)
Net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations	(68,294)	(197,162)
Net cash used by other investing activities of discontinued operations	(58)	(113,465)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate from discontinued operations	212,396	6,301
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	144,044	(304,326)
Proceeds from long-term debt facilities	195,000	711,225
Principal payments on long-term debt	(345,352)	(533,251)
Deferred financing fees paid	(934)	(10,726)
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares	145	141,055
Impact of stock option exercises, net	(499)	(336)
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(3,070)	(2,182)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(77,951)	(70,803)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities of continuing operations	(232,661)	234,994
Net cash used by financing activities of discontinued operations		(6,240)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(232,661)	228,754
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	251	(2,065)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,964	(2,994)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	11,776	23,138
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	15,740	20,144
Entertainment Properties Trust (Issuer) [Member]
Intercompany fee income (expense)	1,384	1,280
Interest income (expense) on intercompany receivable/payable	8,394	8,942
Net cash provided (used) by other operating activities	3,511	8,675
Net cash provided by operating activities	13,289	18,897
Acquisition of rental properties and other assets	(479)	(414)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,587)	(15,033)
Cash paid related to Cappelli settlement		2,783
Investment in intercompany notes payable	128,917	(99,562)
Advances to subsidiaries, net	(59,072)	(221,220)
Net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations	67,779	(333,446)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	67,779
Proceeds from long-term debt facilities		245,725
Deferred financing fees paid	(347)	(4,868)
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares	145	141,055
Impact of stock option exercises, net	(499)	(336)
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(3,070)	(2,182)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(77,951)	(70,803)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities of continuing operations		308,591
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(81,722)	308,591
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(654)	(5,958)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	3,356	13,565
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	2,702	7,607
Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Interest income (expense) on intercompany receivable/payable		(1,371)
Net cash provided (used) by other operating activities	54,886	29,190
Net cash provided by operating activities	54,886	27,819
Acquisition of rental properties and other assets	(28,973)	(124,502)
Investment in mortgage notes receivable	(6,036)	(5,247)
Investment in direct financing lease, net	(2,113)	(44,232)
Additions to properties under development	(10,329)	(274)
Investment in intercompany notes payable	(132,067)	95,007
Advances to subsidiaries, net	(28,939)	175,769
Net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations	(208,457)	96,521
Net cash used by other investing activities of discontinued operations	(58)	(112,206)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate from discontinued operations	205,936
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	(2,579)
Proceeds from long-term debt facilities	195,000	465,500
Principal payments on long-term debt	(247,000)	(464,600)
Deferred financing fees paid	(587)	(5,804)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities of continuing operations		(4,904)
Net cash used by financing activities of discontinued operations		(1,358)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(52,587)	(6,262)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	20	(1,848)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(260)	4,024
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	1,116	107
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	856	4,131
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Intercompany fee income (expense)	(1,384)	(1,280)
Interest income (expense) on intercompany receivable/payable	(8,394)	(7,571)
Net cash provided (used) by other operating activities	33,933	36,778
Net cash provided by operating activities	24,155	27,927
Acquisition of rental properties and other assets	(9,472)	(1,305)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,197)	(148)
Cash paid related to Cappelli settlement		(7,369)
Additions to properties under development	(8,108)	(1,421)
Investment in intercompany notes payable	3,150	4,555
Advances to subsidiaries, net	88,011	45,451
Net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations	72,384	39,763
Net cash used by other investing activities of discontinued operations		(1,259)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate from discontinued operations	6,460	6,301
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	78,844
Principal payments on long-term debt	(98,352)	(68,651)
Deferred financing fees paid		(54)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities of continuing operations		(68,693)
Net cash used by financing activities of discontinued operations		(4,882)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(98,352)	(73,575)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	231	(217)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	4,878	(1,060)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	7,304	9,466
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	12,182	8,406
Consolidated Elimination [Member]
Net cash provided (used) by other operating activities	92,330	74,643
Net cash provided by operating activities	92,330	74,643
Acquisition of rental properties and other assets	(38,924)	(126,221)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(2,784)	(15,181)
Cash paid related to Cappelli settlement		(4,586)
Investment in mortgage notes receivable	(6,036)	(5,247)
Investment in direct financing lease, net	(2,113)	(44,232)
Additions to properties under development	(18,437)	(1,695)
Net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations	(68,294)	(197,162)
Net cash used by other investing activities of discontinued operations	(58)	(113,465)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate from discontinued operations	212,396	6,301
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	144,044
Proceeds from long-term debt facilities	195,000	711,225
Principal payments on long-term debt	(345,352)	(533,251)
Deferred financing fees paid	(934)	(10,726)
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares	145	141,055
Impact of stock option exercises, net	(499)	(336)
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(3,070)	(2,182)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(77,951)	(70,803)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities of continuing operations		234,994
Net cash used by financing activities of discontinued operations		(6,240)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(232,661)	228,754
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	251	(2,065)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,964	(2,994)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	11,776	23,138
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	$ 15,740	$ 20,144