Income Taxes Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Differences in capitalization and depreciation and amortization of reacquired franchises and equipment	$ 4,800,000		$ 4,900,000
Differences in acquisition financing costs	1,800,000		1,800,000
Employee compensation	15,000,000		15,200,000
Deferred gain on sale of assets	6,300,000		5,900,000
Book/tax difference in revenue recognition	29,800,000		22,200,000
Other	35,000,000		35,400,000
Deferred tax assets	92,700,000		85,400,000
Valuation allowance	(1,100,000)		(4,100,000)
Total deferred tax assets after valuation allowance	91,600,000		81,300,000
Differences between financial and tax accounting in the recognition of franchise and equipment sales	(51,200,000)		(55,100,000)
Differences in capitalization and depreciation (1)	(301,100,000)	[1]	(310,200,000)	[1]
Differences in acquisition financing costs	(7,100,000)		(7,700,000)
Book/tax difference in revenue recognition	(19,500,000)		(19,500,000)
Differences between book and tax basis of property and equipment	(10,100,000)		(9,800,000)
Other	(20,300,000)		(19,400,000)
Deferred tax liabilities	(409,300,000)		(421,700,000)
Net deferred tax liabilities	(317,700,000)		(340,400,000)
Net deferred tax asset—current	24,200,000		22,300,000
Valuation allowance—current	(347,000)		(528,000)
Net deferred tax asset—current	23,853,000		21,772,000
Deferred tax liability—non-current	(340,800,000)		(358,600,000)
Net deferred tax liability—non-current	(778,000)		(3,571,000)
Net deferred tax liability—non-current	$ 341,578,000		$ 362,171,000

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