Financial Instruments and Risk Management (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Sep. 24, 2011	Sep. 25, 2010	Sep. 26, 2009
Asset Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance of over-the-counter options	$ 1,509	$ 1,675
Beginning balance realized during the period	(1,509)	(1,434)
Change in the fair value of beginning balance	0	(241)
Contracts purchased during the period	1,780	1,509
Ending balance of over-the-counter options	1,780	1,509
Liability Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance of over-the-counter options	30	844
Beginning balance realized during the period	(30)	(844)
Change in the fair value of beginning balance	0	0
Contracts purchased during the period	118	30
Ending balance of over-the-counter options	118	30
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]
Period over which partnership's outstanding commodity-related derivatives were scheduled to mature (in months)	15M
Weighted average maturity of outstanding commodity-related derivatives (in months)	4M	3M
Credit Risk [Abstract]
Number of locations served by the Partnership	300
Number of states which the Partnership operates	30
Minimum concentration risk threshold accounted for by a single customer (in hundredths)	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Number of suppliers providing a concentration of propane supplies	3
Concentration percentage of propane supply provided by suppliers (in hundredths)	37.00%	38.00%	40.00%
Bank Debt and Senior Notes [Abstract]
Fair Value of Senior Notes	248,500
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - liabilities	4,596	6,301
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - liabilities	1,934	3,561
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - liabilities	2,662	2,740
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value - assets	5,454	2,623
Fair value - liabilities	2,476	2,479
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Commodity Options [Member] \| Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - liabilities	69	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Commodity Options [Member] \| Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - liabilities	2,407	641
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Commodity Options [Member] \| Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value - assets	3,710	2,601
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Commodity Options [Member] \| Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value - assets	612	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Commodity Futures [Member] \| Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - liabilities	0	1,838
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Commodity Futures [Member] \| Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value - assets	1,132	22
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Commodity Futures [Member] \| Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value - assets	$ 0	$ 0

Number of entities which due to the business transacted in the aggregate discloses a concentration in relation to quantitative amount which serves as a benchmark.

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Minimum concentration threshold accounted for by a single entity or an aggregate of entities expressed as a percentage as of the balance sheet date. The threshold serves as a benchmark which may include, but not limited to, customers, suppliers, geography or any other designation.

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Number of locations served by the Partnership as of the balance sheet date.

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- Definition

Maturity period of partnerships' outstanding commodity-related derivative.

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- Definition

For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 275

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 20

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The average time remaining until maturity on the group of derivatives identified.

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Fair value of derivative asset, presented on a gross basis even when the derivative instrument is subject to master netting arrangements and qualifies for net presentation in the statement of financial position.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 10

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Fair value of derivative liability, presented on a gross basis even when the derivative instrument is subject to master netting arrangements and qualifies for net presentation in the statement of financial position.

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in earnings or resulted in a change in net asset value.

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The increase (decrease) of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) which have taken place during the period. Such increase (decrease) may be comprised of changes in fair value (gains or losses) whether realized or unrealized that have been included in earnings, changed net asset value, or other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity); purchases, sales, issuances, or settlements of assets; and net transfers in to or out of this category within the fair value hierarchy.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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- Definition

Purchases that have taken place during the period in relation to assets measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

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- Definition

This element represents an asset measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which is required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-Paragraph 32

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- Definition

This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in earnings or resulted in a change in net asset value.

+ References

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The increase (decrease) of liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) which have taken place during the period. Such increase (decrease) may be comprised of changes in fair value (gains or losses) whether realized or unrealized that have been included in earnings, changed net asset value, or other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity); purchases, sales, issuances, or settlements of assets; and net transfers in to or out of this category within the fair value hierarchy.

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Purchases that have taken place during the period in relation to liabilities measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

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- Definition

This element represents a liability measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which is required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances.

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The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ Details

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- Definition

The number of states the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date.

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