Property (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014 property	Dec. 31, 2013 property
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Number of centers sold	26wri_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesSold
Proceeds from sale and disposition of property	$ 362.4wri_GrossProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstate
Gain on sale of property	167.6wri_GainsLossesonSalesofProperties
Number of acquired centers	1us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Gross payments to acquire real estate	43.8wri_GrossPaymentsToAcquireRealEstate
Investment in new development projects	47.4
Number of properties held for sale	1	8
Property held for sale	$ 9.4us-gaap_RealEstateHeldforsale	$ 155.0us-gaap_RealEstateHeldforsale
Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member]
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Number of centers sold	3

The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Payments to develop real estate assets is the process of adding improvements on or to a parcel of land. Such improvements may include drainage, utilities, subdividing, access, buildings, and any combination of these elements; and are generally classified as cash flow from investing activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToDevelopRealEstateAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of investments in land and buildings held for sale, excluding real estate considered to be inventory of the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(f))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateHeldforsale
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of real estate properties, buildings or undeveloped land parcels held for sale in the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationRealEstatePropertiesHeldforSale
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the amount of gain (loss) on sale of properties including discontinued operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_GainsLossesonSalesofProperties
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross purchase price from the acquisition of a piece of land, anything permanently fixed to it, including buildings, structures on it and so forth; includes real estate intended to generate income for the owner; excludes real estate acquired for use by the owner.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_GrossPaymentsToAcquireRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross cash received from the sale of real estate that is held for investment, that is, it is part of an investing activity during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_GrossProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of real estate properties, buildings or undeveloped land parcels sold during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesSold
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertySubjectToOrAvailableForOperatingLeaseAxis=us-gaap_PropertySubjectToOperatingLeaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: