Segments (Schedule of Segment Reporting Information by Segment) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental revenues	$ 31,402,000	$ 30,753,000
Financing revenues	2,594,000	4,653,000
Total revenues	175,814,000	167,201,000
Interest expense	15,646,000	24,969,000
Depreciation and amortization	7,815,000	8,783,000
Income before income tax provision:	46,092,000	33,714,000
Franchise Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Franchise revenues	124,500,000	115,500,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,600,000	2,600,000
Income before income tax provision:	89,000,000	86,100,000
Rental Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental revenues	31,400,000	30,700,000
Interest expense	3,500,000	3,900,000
Depreciation and amortization	3,200,000	3,400,000
Income before income tax provision:	7,900,000	6,900,000
Company Restaurants
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Company restaurants	17,300,000	16,300,000
Interest expense	100,000	100,000
Depreciation and amortization	200,000	500,000
Income before income tax provision:	800,000	0
Financing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Financing revenues	2,600,000	4,700,000
Income before income tax provision:	2,600,000	4,100,000
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	15,600,000	25,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,800,000	2,300,000
Income before income tax provision:	(54,200,000)	(63,400,000)
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ 19,200,000	$ 29,000,000