Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 restaurants	Dec. 25, 2010	Dec. 26, 2009
Direct Marketing Costs [Abstract]
Advertising expenses	$ 593	$ 557	$ 548
Research and Development Expenses [Abstract]
Research and development expenses	34	33	31
Impairment or Disposal of Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Number of consecutive years of operating losses used as primary indicator of potential impairment for our semi-annual impairment testing of restaurant assets	2 years
Number of years within which a sale is probable to classify a restaurant as held for sale and suspend depreciation and amortization	1 year
Impairment of Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates [Abstract]
Number of consecutive years of operating losses used as indicator of impairment of investments in unconsolidated affiliates	2 years
Recorded impairment associated with unconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Percentage threshold that the positions taken or expected to be taken is more likely than not sustained upon examination by tax authorities (in hundredths)	50.00%
Receivables [Abstract]
Number of days from the period in which the corresponding sales occur that trade receivables are generally due	30 days
Net provisions for uncollectible franchise and license trade receivables included in Franchise and license expenses	7	3	11
Accounts and notes receivable [Abstract]
Accounts and notes receivable	308	289
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(22)	(33)
Accounts and notes receivable, net	286	256
Number of years notes receivable and direct financing leases are due within and would be included in accounts and notes receivable	1 year
Number of years notes receivable and direct financing leases are beyond and would be included in other assets	1 year
Net amounts included in Other Assets	15	57
Allowance for doubtful accounts related to notes and direct financing lease receivables	$ 4	$ 30
Leases and Leasehold Improvements [Abstract]
Approximate number of restaurants operated on leased land and/or buildings	6,200
Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Number of years from acquisition that goodwill is written off in its entirety, if a Company restaurant is sold within this period	2 years
Minimum number of years from acquisition that a company restaurant is sold, after which we include goodwill in the carrying amount of the restaurants disposed of based on the relative fair values of the portion of the reporting unit disposed of in the refranchising and the portion of the reporting unit that will be retained	2 years
Buildings and improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Minimum estimated useful life used in the calculation of the depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis (in years)	5
Maximum estimated useful life used in the calculation of the depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis (in years)	25
Machinery and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Minimum estimated useful life used in the calculation of the depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis (in years)	3
Maximum estimated useful life used in the calculation of the depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis (in years)	20
Capitalized software costs
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Minimum estimated useful life used in the calculation of the depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis (in years)	3
Maximum estimated useful life used in the calculation of the depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis (in years)	7