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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Global Real Estate Portfolio
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Global Real Estate Portfolio (the "Portfolio") seeks to provide current income and capital appreciation.

Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Class IS shares of the Portfolio.

Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect Portfolio performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio's portfolio turnover rate was 33% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 33.00%
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates Other expenses have been estimated for the current fiscal year.
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.


The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio, your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Portfolio's assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in equity securities of companies in the real estate industry, including real estate operating companies ("REOCs"), real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and similar entities established outside the United States ("foreign real estate companies"). This policy may be changed without shareholder approval; however, you would be notified in writing of any changes. The equity securities in which the Portfolio may invest include common stock, preferred stock, convertible securities, depositary receipts and rights and warrants.


The Portfolio will invest primarily in companies located in the developed countries of North America, Europe and Asia, but may also invest in emerging markets.


The Portfolio's "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., and the Portfolio's "Sub-Advisers," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited ("MSIM Limited") and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company ("MSIM Company"), actively manage the Portfolio using a combination of top-down and bottom-up methodologies. The Adviser's and Sub-Advisers' proprietary models drive the bottom-up value-driven approach for stock selection. The top-down portion seeks diversified exposure to all major asset classes with an overweighting to property markets that offer the best relative valuation. The bottom-up research process strongly influences the Adviser's and Sub-Advisers' perspective on which property markets they believe provide better relative value and growth prospects and, consequently, affects their decision to overweight or underweight a given region, sector and/or country. The Adviser and Sub-Advisers generally consider selling a portfolio holding if the holding's share price shifts to the point where the position no longer represents an attractive relative value opportunity versus the underlying value of its assets and/or growth prospects or versus other securities in the investment universe.

Strategy Portfolio Concentration [Text] rr_StrategyPortfolioConcentration Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Portfolio's assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in equity securities of companies in the real estate industry, including real estate operating companies ("REOCs"), real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and similar entities established outside the United States ("foreign real estate companies").
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective and you can lose money investing in this Portfolio. The principal risks of investing in the Portfolio include:


•  Equity Securities. In general, prices of equity securities are more volatile than those of fixed income securities. The prices of equity securities fluctuate, and sometimes widely fluctuate, in response to activities specific to the issuer of the security as well as factors unrelated to the fundamental condition of the issuer, including general market, economic and political conditions. To the extent that the Portfolio invests in convertible securities, and the convertible security's investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.


•  REITs, REOCs and Foreign Real Estate Companies. Investing in REITs, REOCs and foreign real estate companies exposes investors to the risks of owning real estate directly, as well as to risks that relate specifically to the way in which REITs, REOCs and foreign real estate companies are organized and operated. Operating REITs and foreign real estate companies requires specialized management skills and the Portfolio indirectly bears management expenses along with the direct expenses of the Portfolio. REITs are also subject to certain provisions under federal tax law and the failure of a company to qualify as a REIT could have adverse consequences for the Portfolio. In addition, foreign real estate companies may be subject to the laws, rules and regulations governing those entities and their failure to comply with those laws, rules and regulations could negatively impact the performance of those entities.


•  Foreign and Emerging Market Securities. Investments in foreign markets entail special risks such as currency, political, economic and market risks. There also may be greater market volatility, less reliable financial information, higher transaction and custody costs, decreased market liquidity and less government and exchange regulation associated with investments in foreign markets. In addition, investments in certain foreign markets, which have historically been considered stable, may become more volatile and subject to increased risk due to ongoing developments and changing conditions in such markets. Moreover, the growing interconnectivity of global economies and financial markets has increased the probability that adverse developments and conditions in one country or region will affect the stability of economies and financial markets in other countries or regions. The risks of investing in emerging market countries are greater than risks associated with investments in foreign developed countries. In addition, the Portfolio's investments in foreign issuers generally will be denominated in foreign currencies and therefore, to the extent unhedged, the value of the investment will fluctuate with the U.S. dollar exchange rates.


•  Liquidity. The Portfolio's investments in illiquid securities may entail greater risk than investments in publicly traded securities. These securities may be more difficult to sell, particularly in times of market turmoil. Additionally, the market for certain investments deemed liquid at the time of purchase may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions. Illiquid securities may be more difficult to value. If the Portfolio is forced to sell an illiquid security to fund redemptions or for other cash needs, it may be forced to sell the security at a loss.


Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective and you can lose money investing in this Portfolio.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance Information
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the Portfolio's Class I shares' performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Portfolio's average annual returns for the past one and five year periods and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance and a comparative sector index, as well as an average that represents a group of similar mutual funds, over time. The performance of the Class IS shares will differ because the Class IS shares have different ongoing fees. The Portfolio's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at www.morganstanley.com/im.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in the Portfolio's Class I shares' performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Portfolio's average annual returns for the past one and five year periods and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance and a comparative sector index, as well as an average that represents a group of similar mutual funds, over time.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.morganstanley.com/im
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Portfolio's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual Total Returns-Calendar Years (Class I)*
Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block] rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

*  Class I shares are not offered in this Prospectus. Class IS shares of the Portfolio had not completed a full calendar year of operations as of December 31, 2013 and therefore Class IS shares do not have annualized return information to report. Class IS shares would have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ only to the extent that the Classes do not have the same expenses. The returns for Class IS shares are expected to be higher than the returns for Class I shares of the Portfolio as expenses of Class IS are estimated to be lower. Return information for the Portfolio's Class IS shares will be shown in future prospectuses offering the Portfolio's Class IS shares after the Portfolio's Class IS shares have a full calendar year of return information to report.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

High Quarter

 

6/30/09

   

39.91

%

 

Low Quarter

 

12/31/08

   

–30.11

%

 
Bar Chart, Returns for Class Not Offered in Prospectus [Text] rr_BarChartReturnsForClassNotOfferedInProspectus Class I shares are not offered in this Prospectus.
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel High Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 39.91%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Low Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (30.11%)
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate The after-tax returns shown in the table above are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns for the Portfolio's Class IS shares will vary from Class I shares' returns.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The after-tax returns shown in the table above are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns for the Portfolio's Class IS shares will vary from Class I shares' returns. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Portfolio shares through tax deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Portfolio shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.

Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average Annual Total Returns (for the calendar periods ended December 31, 2013)
FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Real Estate Index—Net Total Return to US Investors (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.21% [1]
Average Annual Returns, Past 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.70% [1]
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.20% [1],[2]
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Aug. 30, 2006 [1]
MSCI World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 26.68% [3]
Average Annual Returns, Past 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.02% [3]
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 4.97% [2],[3]
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Aug. 30, 2006 [3]
Lipper Global Real Estate Funds Average (reflects no deduction for taxes)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.24% [4]
Average Annual Returns, Past 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 14.37% [4]
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 1.84% [2],[4]
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Aug. 30, 2006 [4]
Class IS
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Advisory Fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fee rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.12% [5]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.97%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 99
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 $ 309
Performance One Year or Less [Text] rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess Class IS shares of the Portfolio had not completed a full calendar year of operations as of December 31, 2013 and therefore Class IS shares do not have annualized return information to report.
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01    [6]
Average Annual Returns, Past 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05    [6]
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception    [6]
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 13, 2013 [6]
Class I
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 (7.87%)
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (45.00%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 41.04%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 20.22%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (9.67%)
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 30.19%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 3.55%
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.55% [6]
Average Annual Returns, Past 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.61% [6]
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 2.82% [6]
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Aug. 30, 2006 [6]
Class I | After Taxes on Distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.73% [6]
Average Annual Returns, Past 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 14.67% [6]
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 1.93% [6]
Class I | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Past 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.09% [6]
Average Annual Returns, Past 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 12.28% [6]
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 1.91% [6]
[1] The FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Real Estate Index-Net Total Return to US Investors is a market capitalization weighted index designed to reflect the stock performance of companies engaged in the North American, European and Asian real estate markets. The performance of the Index is listed in U.S. dollars and assumes reinvestment of net dividends. "Net Total Return to US Investors" reflects a reduction in total returns after taking into account the withholding tax on dividends by certain foreign countries represented in the Index for periods after 1/31/05 (gross returns used prior to 1/31/05). It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
[2] Since Inception reflects the inception date of Class I.
[3] The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the global equity market performance of developed markets. The term "free float" represents the portion of shares outstanding that are deemed to be available for purchase in the public equity markets by investors. The MSCI World Index currently consists of 23 developed market country indices. The performance of the Index is listed in U.S. dollars and assumes reinvestment of net dividends. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
[4] The Lipper Global Real Estate Funds Average tracks the performance of all funds in the Lipper Global Real Estate Funds classification.
[5] Other expenses have been estimated for the current fiscal year.
[6] Class I shares are not offered in this Prospectus. Class IS shares of the Portfolio had not completed a full calendar year of operations as of December 31, 2013 and therefore Class IS shares do not have annualized return information to report. Class IS shares would have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ only to the extent that the Classes do not have the same expenses. The returns for Class IS shares are expected to be higher than the returns for Class I shares of the Portfolio as expenses of Class IS are estimated to be lower. Return information for the Portfolio's Class IS shares will be shown in future prospectuses offering the Portfolio's Class IS shares after the Portfolio's Class IS shares have a full calendar year of return information to report.