Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Apr. 30, 2012
Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return, Heading	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Fund Summary
Investment Objective, Heading	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
investment Objective, Primary	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund seeks long-term capital growth.
Expense, Heading	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense, Narrative	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Morgan Stanley Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in the "Share Class Arrangements" section beginning on page 24 of this Prospectus and in the "Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares" section beginning on page 52 of the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").
Shareholder Fees, Caption	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses, Caption	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover, Heading	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 32% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	32.00%
Expense Breakpoint, Discounts	rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts	You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Morgan Stanley Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required Amount	rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount	25,000
Expense Example, Heading	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example, Narrative	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Fund's operating expenses remain the same (except for the ten-year amounts for Class B shares which reflect the conversion to Class A shares eight years after the end of the calendar month in which shares were purchased). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, By Year, Caption	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption	If You SOLD Your Shares:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption	If You HELD Your Shares:
Investment Strategy, Heading	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Investment Strategy, Narrative	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund normally invests at least 65% of its assets in a portfolio of common stocks (including depositary receipts). The Fund's "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., emphasizes a bottom-up stock selection process, seeking attractive investments on an individual company basis. In selecting securities for investment, the Adviser seeks to invest primarily in established and emerging high quality companies it believes have sustainable competitive advantages and the ability to redeploy capital at high rates of return. The Adviser typically favors companies with rising returns on invested capital, above average business visibility, strong free cash flow generation and an attractive risk/reward. Up to 25% of the Fund's net assets may be invested in foreign securities (including depositary receipts), which may include emerging market securities. This percentage limitation, however, does not apply to securities of foreign companies that are listed in the United States on a national securities exchange. The Fund may invest in privately placed and restricted securities. The Fund may utilize foreign currency forward exchange contracts, which are derivatives, in connection with its investments in foreign securities.
Risk, Heading	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk, Narrative	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you can lose money investing in this Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund include: • Common Stock. In general, common stock values fluctuate, and sometimes widely fluctuate, in response to activities specific to a company as well as general market, economic and political conditions. • Foreign and Emerging Market Securities. Investments in foreign markets entail special risks such as currency, political, economic and market risks. There also may be greater market volatility, less reliable financial information, higher transaction and custody costs, decreased market liquidity and less government and exchange regulation associated with investments in foreign markets. In addition, investments in certain foreign markets, which have historically been considered stable, may become more volatile and subject to increased risk due to ongoing developments and changing conditions in such markets. Moreover, the growing interconnectivity of global economies and financial markets has increased the probability that adverse developments and conditions in one country or region will affect the stability of economies and financial markets in other countries or regions. The risks of investing in emerging market countries are greater than risks associated with investments in foreign developed countries. In addition, the Fund's investments may be denominated in foreign currencies and therefore, changes in the value of a country's currency compared to the U.S. dollar may affect the value of the Fund's investments. Hedging the Fund's currency risks through foreign currency forward exchange contracts involves the risk of mismatching the Fund's objectives under a foreign currency forward exchange contract with the value of securities denominated in a particular currency. There is additional risk that such transactions reduce or preclude the opportunity for gain and that currency contracts create exposure to currencies in which the Fund's securities are not denominated. The use of foreign currency forward exchange contracts involves the risk of loss from the insolvency or bankruptcy of the counterparty to the contract or the failure of the counterparty to make payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the contract. • Non-Diversified Status. The Fund is a "non-diversified" mutual fund and, as such, its investments are not required to meet certain diversification requirements under federal law. Compared with "diversified" funds, the Fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of an individual corporation or governmental entity. Thus, the Fund's assets may be concentrated in fewer securities than other funds. A decline in the value of those investments would cause the Fund's overall value to decline to a greater degree. • Privately Placed and Restricted Securities. The Fund's investments may also include privately placed securities, which are subject to resale restrictions. These securities will have the effect of increasing the level of Fund illiquidity to the extent the Fund may be unable to sell or transfer these securities due to restrictions on transfers or on the ability to find buyers interested in purchasing the securities. The illiquidity of the market, as well as the lack of publicly available information regarding these securities, may also adversely affect the ability to arrive at a fair value for certain securities at certain times. Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Risk, Lose Money	rr_RiskLoseMoney	There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you can lose money investing in this Fund.
Risk, Nondiversified Status	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	The Fund is a "non-diversified" mutual fund and, as such, its investments are not required to meet certain diversification requirements under federal law.
Risk, Not Insured Depository Institution	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table, Heading	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Past Performance
Performance, Narrative	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's Class B shares' performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year periods compared with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as an index that represents a group of similar mutual funds, over time. The performance of the other Classes will differ because the Classes have different ongoing fees. The performance information in the bar chart does not reflect the deduction of sales charges; if these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown. The Fund's returns in the table include the maximum applicable sales charge for each Class and assume you sold your shares at the end of each period (unless otherwise noted). The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at www.morganstanley.com/im or by calling toll-free (800) 869-NEWS.
Performance, Information Illustrates Variability of Returns	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's Class B shares' performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year periods compared with those of a broad measure of market performance, as well as an index that represents a group of similar mutual funds, over time.
Performance, Availability Phone Number	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone	(800) 869-NEWS
Performance, Availability Website Address	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	www.morganstanley.com/im
Performance, Past Does Not Indicate Future	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart, Heading	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns-Calendar Years
Bar Chart, Does Not Reflect Sales Loads	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	The performance information in the bar chart does not reflect the deduction of sales charges; if these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown.
Bar Chart, Closing	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	High Quarter 6/30/09 22.41% Low Quarter 12/31/08 -34.00%
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes	rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes	reflects no deduction for taxes
Performance Table, Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	The after-tax returns shown in the table above are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table, Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table, One Class of after Tax Shown	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to foreign tax credits and/or an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Fund shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.
Performance Table, Closing	rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock	The after-tax returns shown in the table above are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns for the Fund's other Classes will vary from the Class B shares' returns. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to foreign tax credits and/or an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Fund shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.
Average Annual Returns, Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2011
Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund | Russell 1000® Growth Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Average Annual Returns, Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Russell 1000® Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	[1]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.64%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.50%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.60%
Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund | Lipper Large-Cap Growth Funds Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Average Annual Returns, Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Lipper Large-Cap Growth Funds Index (reflects no deduction for taxes)	[2]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(2.90%)
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.85%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.43%
Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund | Class A
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	5.25%	[3]
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage based on the lesser of the offering price or net asset value at redemption)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none	[4]
Advisory fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.27%
Total annual Fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.96%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	618
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	815
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,028
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,641
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	618
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	815
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	1,028
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,641
Average Annual Returns, Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Class A: Return Before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(10.70%)
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.70%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.72%
Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund | Class B
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage based on the lesser of the offering price or net asset value at redemption)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	5.00%	[5]
Advisory fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.27%
Total annual Fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.71%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	674
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	839
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,128
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,820
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	174
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	539
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	928
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,820
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	(23.09%)
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	18.49%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	7.45%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	13.31%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	(0.73%)
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	21.81%
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(52.96%)
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	72.09%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	25.87%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	(6.43%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	High Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	22.41%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Low Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(34.00%)
Average Annual Returns, Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Class B: Return Before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(11.11%)
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.68%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.64%	[6]
Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund | Class B | After Taxes on Distributions
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Average Annual Returns, Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Return After Taxes on Distributions	[7]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(11.11%)
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.68%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.64%	[6]
Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund | Class B | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Average Annual Returns, Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.22%)
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.30%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.28%	[6]
Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund | Class C
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage based on the lesser of the offering price or net asset value at redemption)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	1.00%	[5]
Advisory fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.27%
Total annual Fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.71%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	274
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	539
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	928
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	2,019
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	174
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	539
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	928
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	2,019
Average Annual Returns, Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Class C: Return Before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(7.39%)
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.03%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.50%
Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund | Class I
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage based on the lesser of the offering price or net asset value at redemption)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Advisory fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.44%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.27%
Total annual Fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.71%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	73
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	227
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	395
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	883
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	73
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	227
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	395
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	883
Average Annual Returns, Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Class I: Return Before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	(5.50%)
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.08%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.52%

[1] The Russell 1000® Growth Index measures the performance of the large-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000® Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Russell 1000® Index is an index of approximately 1,000 of the largest U.S. companies based on a combination of market capitalization and current index membership. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

[2] The Lipper Large-Cap Growth Funds Index is an equally weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Large-Cap Growth Funds classification. There are currently 30 funds represented in this Index.

[3] Reduced for purchases of $25,000 and over.

[4] Investments that are not subject to any sales charges at the time of purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of 1.00% that will be imposed if you sell your shares within 18 months after purchase, except for certain specific circumstances.

[5] The Class B CDSC is scaled down to 1.00% during the sixth year, reaching zero thereafter, and the Class C CDSC is only applicable if you sell your shares within one year after purchase. See "Share Class Arrangements" for a complete discussion of the CDSC.

[6] Effective April 2005, Class B shares will generally convert to Class A shares approximately eight years after the end of the calendar month in which the shares were purchased. The "Past 10 Years" performance for Class B shares reflects this conversion.

[7] These returns do not reflect any tax consequences from a sale of your shares at the end of each period, but they do reflect any applicable sales charges on such a sale.