Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	$ 30,731,000	$ 29,171,000	$ 61,734,000	$ 61,176,000
Financing revenues	3,230,000	3,959,000	7,067,000	8,242,000
Total segment revenues	158,114,000	229,391,000	321,283,000	474,973,000
Interest expense	24,956,000	29,650,000	50,251,000	59,871,000
Depreciation and amortization	8,800,000	10,500,000	17,636,000	20,956,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	26,956,000	27,427,000	57,146,000	76,474,000
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	29,100,000	34,100,000	58,600,000	68,700,000
Franchise Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Franchise revenues	108,000,000	102,500,000	219,900,000	210,900,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,700,000	2,500,000	5,500,000	4,900,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	81,900,000	76,200,000	165,600,000	156,900,000
Company Restaurants
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Company restaurant sales	16,100,000	93,800,000	32,600,000	194,700,000
Interest expense	100,000	100,000	200,000	200,000
Depreciation and amortization	600,000	2,300,000	1,100,000	4,700,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	14,200,000	200,000	30,900,000
Rental Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	30,731,000	29,171,000	61,700,000	61,200,000
Interest expense	4,000,000	4,300,000	8,100,000	8,600,000
Depreciation and amortization	3,300,000	3,400,000	6,700,000	6,900,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,200,000	4,800,000	12,900,000	12,300,000
Financing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Financing revenues	3,230,000	3,959,000	7,100,000	8,200,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,000,000	3,100,000	6,800,000	6,700,000
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	25,000,000	29,700,000	50,300,000	59,900,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,200,000	2,300,000	4,300,000	4,500,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ (64,100,000)	$ (70,900,000)	$ (128,400,000)	$ (130,300,000)