Financial Instruments and Risk Management (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 24, 2011	Sep. 25, 2010
Asset Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance of over-the-counter options	$ 1,780	$ 1,509
Beginning balance realized during the period	(1,168)	(1,509)
Change in the fair value of beginning balance	1,059	0
Contracts purchased during the period	3,331	1,780
Ending balance of over-the-counter options	5,002	1,780
Liability Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance of over-the-counter options	118	30
Beginning balance realized during the period	(49)	(30)
Change in the fair value of beginning balance	120	0
Contracts purchased during the period	1,020	118
Ending balance of over-the-counter options	1,209	118
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]
Number of Propane Gallons	44,531
Weighted average maturity of outstanding commodity-related derivatives (in months)	4
Concentrations [Abstract]
Number of locations served by the Partnership	750
Number of states which the Partnership operates	41
Bank Debt and Senior Notes [Abstract]
Fair Value of Senior Notes	531,316	272,500	542,460
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Revenues [Member]
Concentrations [Abstract]
Minimum concentration risk threshold accounted for by a single customer or supplier (in hundredths)	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member] | Propane Purchases [Member]
Concentrations [Abstract]
Minimum concentration risk threshold accounted for by a single customer or supplier (in hundredths)	10.00%
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member] | Propane Purchases [Member] | Traga Liquids Marketing and Trade [Member]
Concentrations [Abstract]
Concentration percentage of propane supply provided by suppliers (in hundredths)	16.00%
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member] | Propane Purchases [Member] | Enterprise Products Operating L.P. [Member]
Concentrations [Abstract]
Concentration percentage of propane supply provided by suppliers (in hundredths)	13.00%
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member] | Propane Purchases [Member] | Phillips 66 [Member]
Concentrations [Abstract]
Concentration percentage of propane supply provided by suppliers (in hundredths)	11.00%
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member] | Propane Purchases [Member] | Inergy Services [Member]
Concentrations [Abstract]
Concentration percentage of propane supply provided by suppliers (in hundredths)	11.00%
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - liabilities	5,477	4,596
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - liabilities	3,047	1,934
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - liabilities	2,430	2,662
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value - assets	5,133	5,454
Fair value - liabilities	8,742	2,476
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - liabilities	22	69
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - liabilities	8,720	2,407
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Commodity-related derivatives [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value - assets	4,523	4,842
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Commodity-related derivatives [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value - assets	$ 610	$ 612