Unit-Based Compensation Arrangements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 24, 2011	Sep. 25, 2010
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted Unit Plans, terms of award	Unless otherwise stipulated by the Compensation Committee of the Partnership's Board of Supervisors on or before the grant date, Restricted Units issued under the Restricted Unit Plans vest over time with 25% of the Common Units vesting at the end of each of the third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date and the remaining 50% of the Common Units vesting at the end of the fifth anniversary of the grant date. The Restricted Unit Plans participants are not eligible to receive quarterly distributions on, or vote their respective restricted units until vested. Restricted units cannot be sold or transferred prior to vesting. The value of the restricted unit is established by the market price of the Common Unit on the date of grant, net of estimated future distributions during the vesting period. Restricted units are subject to forfeiture in certain circumstances as defined in the Restricted Unit Plans.
Total number of Common Units authorized for issuance	1,902,122
Weighted-average recognition period of compensation cost (in years)	1.9
Long-Term Incentive Plan [Abstract]
Long-Term Incentive Plan, terms of award	The Partnership has a non-qualified, unfunded long-term incentive plan for officers and key employees (the "LTIP") which provides for payment, in the form of cash, for an award of equity-based compensation at the end of a three-year performance period.
Compensation expense	$ (340)	$ 1,504	$ 3,058
Cash payouts	3,336	2,697	2,741
Units [Rollforward]
Outstanding, beginning of period (in units)	485,423	481,267	415,295
Granted (in units)	108,674	136,241	160,771
Forfeited (in units)	(12,225)	(21,290)	(4,693)
Issued (in units)	(139,021)	(110,795)	(90,106)
Outstanding, end of period (in units)	442,851	485,423	481,267
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Unit [Abstract]
Outstanding, beginning of period (in dollars per unit)	$ 32.71	$ 29.67	$ 28.89
Granted (in dollars per unit)	$ 32.60	$ 39.54	$ 32.11
Forfeited (in dollars per unit)	$ (30.78)	$ (33.05)	$ (30.31)
Issued (in dollars per unit)	$ (33.14)	$ (27.82)	$ (30.37)
Outstanding, end of period (in dollars per unit)	$ 32.68	$ 32.71	$ 29.67
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost	5,430
Compensation expense	$ 4,059	$ 3,922	$ 4,005