Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	$ 31,003,000	$ 32,005,000
Financing revenues	3,837,000	4,283,000
Total segment revenues	163,169,000	245,582,000
Interest expense	25,295,000	30,221,000
Depreciation and amortization	8,836,000	10,463,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	30,190,000	49,047,000
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	29,500,000	34,700,000
Franchise Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Franchise revenues	111,900,000	108,400,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,800,000	2,500,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	83,700,000	80,800,000
Company Restaurants
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Company restaurant sales	16,500,000	100,900,000
Interest expense	100,000	100,000
Depreciation and amortization	500,000	2,400,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	200,000	16,700,000
Rental Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	31,000,000	32,000,000
Interest expense	4,100,000	4,400,000
Depreciation and amortization	3,400,000	3,500,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,700,000	7,500,000
Financing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Financing revenues	3,800,000	4,300,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,800,000	3,600,000
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	25,300,000	30,200,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,100,000	2,100,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ (64,200,000)	$ (59,600,000)