Income Taxes Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Differences in capitalization and depreciation and amortization of reacquired franchises and equipment	$ 4,900,000		$ 4,900,000
Differences in acquisition financing costs	1,800,000		1,900,000
Employee compensation	15,200,000		14,200,000
Deferred gain on sale of assets	5,900,000		2,000,000
Book/tax difference in revenue recognition	22,200,000		18,100,000
Other	35,400,000		35,900,000
Deferred tax assets	85,400,000		77,000,000
Valuation allowance	(4,100,000)		(2,900,000)
Total deferred tax assets after valuation allowance	81,300,000		74,100,000
Differences between financial and tax accounting in the recognition of franchise and equipment sales	(55,100,000)		(59,400,000)
Differences in capitalization and depreciation	(310,200,000)	[1]	(322,200,000)	[1]
Differences in acquisition financing costs	(7,700,000)		(9,300,000)
Book/tax difference in revenue recognition	(19,500,000)		(19,800,000)
Differences between book and tax basis of property and equipment	(9,800,000)		(9,800,000)
Other	(19,400,000)		(16,800,000)
Deferred tax liabilities	421,700,000		437,300,000
Net deferred tax liabilities	(340,400,000)		(363,200,000)
Net deferred tax asset - current	22,300,000		21,000,000
Valuation Allowance - current	(500,000)		(400,000)
Net deferred tax asset - current	21,772,000		20,579,000
Deferred tax liability - non-current	(358,600,000)		(381,300,000)
Valuation allowance - non current	(3,600,000)		(2,500,000)
Net deferred tax liabilities - non-current	$ 362,171,000		$ 383,810,000

[1] Primarily related to the Applebee's acquisition.