Options Outstanding and Exercisable Under Employee Stock Plans (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2013		Sep. 28, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 01, 2010
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares, Options Outstanding	4,485		6,459	6,917	10,174
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Outstanding	3 years 1 month 24 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding	$ 53.02		$ 48.34	$ 45.90	$ 44.03
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding	$ 94,909	[1]
Number of Shares, Options Exercisable	3,655		5,540
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Exercisable	2 years 6 months 29 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable	$ 50.18		$ 46.91
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Exercisable	87,720	[1]
Range One
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit	$ 32.1
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit	$ 39.85
Number of Shares, Options Outstanding	665
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Outstanding	1 year 7 months 10 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding	$ 38.23
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding	23,919	[1]
Number of Shares, Options Exercisable	665
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Exercisable	1 year 7 months 10 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable	$ 38.23
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Exercisable	23,919	[1]
Range Two
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit	$ 40.21
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit	$ 52.07
Number of Shares, Options Outstanding	1,359
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Outstanding	2 years 7 months 24 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding	$ 50.20
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding	32,599	[1]
Number of Shares, Options Exercisable	1,359
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Exercisable	2 years 7 months 24 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable	$ 50.20
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Exercisable	32,599	[1]
Range Three
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit	$ 52.08
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit	$ 72.26
Number of Shares, Options Outstanding	2,461
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Outstanding	3 years 10 months 2 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding	$ 58.58
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding	38,391	[1]
Number of Shares, Options Exercisable	1,631
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Exercisable	2 years 11 months 5 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable	$ 55.04
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Exercisable	$ 31,202	[1]

[1] The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value, which is computed based on the difference between the exercise price and the closing price of VMS common stock of $74.18 as of September 27, 2013, the last trading date of fiscal year 2013, and which represents the amount that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options and sold the shares received upon exercise as of that date