Receivables (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 67,400,000	$ 57,300,000
Gift card receivables	44,600,000	37,700,000
Credit card receivables	400,000	3,300,000
Notes receivable	2,200,000	1,800,000
Other	8,800,000	9,900,000
Receivables	343,600,000	345,800,000
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts	(2,700,000)	(3,600,000)
Receivables, net	340,900,000	342,200,000
Less: current portion	(128,610,000)	(115,667,000)
Long-term receivables	212,269,000	226,526,000
Amount of Financing Receivables Delinquent	400,000
Amount of Financing Receivables Included in Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	500,000
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	3,600,000	6,200,000	3,400,000
Provisions	500,000	400,000	3,400,000
Charge-offs	(1,900,000)	(3,100,000)	(800,000)
Recoveries	500,000	100,000	200,000
Balance at end of period	2,700,000	3,600,000	6,200,000
Minimum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Franchise Fee Notes Receivable Lease Term	5 years
Maximum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Franchise Fee Notes Receivable Lease Term	8 years
IHOP
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Equipment Lease Receivable Average Annual Interest Rate	9.84%	9.92%
Franchise Fee Notes Receivable, Average Annual Interest Rate	6.80%	7.40%
Equipment leases receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing receivable	122,400,000	131,500,000
Direct financing leases receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing receivable	95,100,000	100,000,000
Franchise fee notes receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing receivable	$ 2,700,000	$ 4,300,000