Employee Stock Plans - Options Outstanding and Exercisable Under Employee Stock Plans (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2014		Sep. 27, 2013
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares, Options Outstanding	3,343
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Outstanding	3 years 3 months 7 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding	$ 60.53
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding	$ 69,772	[1]
Number of Shares, Options Exercisable	2,486		3,655
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Exercisable	2 years 4 months 6 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable	$ 54.21		$ 50.18
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Exercisable	66,345	[1]
Range One
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit	$ 37.06
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit	$ 39.85
Number of Shares, Options Outstanding	129
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Outstanding	1 year 4 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding	$ 37.94
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding	5,537	[1]
Number of Shares, Options Exercisable	129
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Exercisable	1 year 4 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable	$ 37.94
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Exercisable	5,537	[1]
Range Two
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit	$ 45.22
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit	$ 52.07
Number of Shares, Options Outstanding	880
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Outstanding	1 year 8 months 27 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding	$ 50.30
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding	26,907	[1]
Number of Shares, Options Exercisable	880
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Exercisable	1 year 8 months 27 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable	$ 50.30
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Exercisable	26,907	[1]
Range Three
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit	$ 52.61
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit	$ 72.26
Number of Shares, Options Outstanding	1,722
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Outstanding	3 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding	$ 59.28
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding	37,237	[1]
Number of Shares, Options Exercisable	1,477
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Exercisable	2 years 9 months 29 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable	$ 57.95
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Exercisable	33,901	[1]
Range Four
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit	$ 74.28
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit	$ 84.23
Number of Shares, Options Outstanding	612
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Outstanding	6 years 4 months 28 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding	$ 83.49
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding	$ 91	[1]
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years), Options Exercisable	0 years

[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 $80.90 as of September 26, 2014, the last trading date of fiscal year 2014, 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