Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Franchise Revenue	$ 108,409,000	$ 104,552,000
Food and Beverage Revenue	100,885,000	154,703,000
Rental income	32,005,000	32,216,000
Financial Services Revenue	4,283,000	8,729,000
Revenues	245,582,000	300,200,000
Interest expense	30,221,000	36,306,000
Interest Expense	34,700,000	41,100,000
Depreciation and amortization	10,463,000	13,290,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	49,047,000	41,175,000
Franchise Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	2,500,000	2,500,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	80,800,000	77,100,000
Company Restaurants [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	100,000	200,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,400,000	4,900,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	16,700,000	22,900,000
Rental Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	4,400,000	4,600,000
Depreciation and amortization	3,500,000	3,500,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	7,500,000	7,600,000
Financing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,600,000	3,200,000
Corproate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	30,200,000	36,300,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,100,000	2,400,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ (59,600,000)	$ (69,600,000)