Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Proceeds from Collection of Notes Receivable	$ 64,865	$ 0
Net cash used in operating activities	(1,120,322)	(1,311,926)
Purchases of AFS securities	(45,158)	(108,351)
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities	72,502	86,808
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	35,320	31,205
Capital expenditures	(125,654)	(96,063)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	37,865	20,662
Loans made to franchisees	(62,039)	(68,874)
Repayments from franchisees	17,893	9,594
Intercompany advances (payments)
Other, net	12,227	(13,973)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(67,909)	(180,316)
Repayments of other borrowings		(636,621)
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	0	497,185
Customer banking deposits, net	(124,947)	208,753
Dividends paid	(164,134)	(162,692)
Repurchase of common stock	(6,047)	(340,298)
Proceeds from stock options	28,083	11,529
Intercompany advances (payments)
Other, net	(29,872)	(36,113)
Net cash used in financing activities	(101,933)	(33,290)
Effects of exchange rates on cash	(20,016)	(417)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(1,310,180)	(1,525,949)
Cash & cash equivalents	437,404	418,385
Repayments of Commercial Paper	80,930	789,271
Proceeds from Issuance of Commercial Paper	275,914	1,214,238
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Proceeds from Collection of Notes Receivable	0
Net cash used in operating activities	(309)	(158)
Purchases of AFS securities
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities
Mortgage loans held for investment, net
Capital expenditures
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired
Loans made to franchisees
Repayments from franchisees
Intercompany advances (payments)	142,407	491,619
Other, net
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	142,407	491,619
Repayments of other borrowings
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt
Customer banking deposits, net
Dividends paid	(164,134)	(162,692)
Repurchase of common stock	(6,047)	(340,298)
Proceeds from stock options	28,083	11,529
Intercompany advances (payments)
Other, net
Net cash used in financing activities	(142,098)	(491,461)
Effects of exchange rates on cash
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash & cash equivalents
Repayments of Commercial Paper
Proceeds from Issuance of Commercial Paper
Block Financial Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Proceeds from Collection of Notes Receivable	0
Net cash used in operating activities	(347,188)	(408,904)
Purchases of AFS securities	(45,158)	(108,351)
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities	72,502	86,756
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	35,320	31,205
Capital expenditures	(59)	(58)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired
Loans made to franchisees	(62,039)	(68,874)
Repayments from franchisees	17,893	9,594
Other, net	6,384	(21,879)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	24,843	(71,607)
Repayments of other borrowings		(605,790)
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt		497,185
Customer banking deposits, net	(127,050)	208,443
Dividends paid
Repurchase of common stock
Proceeds from stock options
Intercompany advances (payments)	(122,216)	(251,638)
Other, net		(12,987)
Net cash used in financing activities	(54,282)	260,180
Effects of exchange rates on cash
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(376,627)	(220,331)
Cash & cash equivalents	181,483	294,816
Repayments of Commercial Paper	80,930	789,271
Proceeds from Issuance of Commercial Paper	275,914	1,214,238
Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Proceeds from Collection of Notes Receivable	64,865
Net cash used in operating activities	(772,825)	(902,864)
Purchases of AFS securities
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities		52
Mortgage loans held for investment, net
Capital expenditures	(125,595)	(96,005)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	37,865	20,662
Loans made to franchisees
Repayments from franchisees
Other, net	5,843	7,906
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(92,752)	(108,709)
Repayments of other borrowings		(30,831)
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt
Customer banking deposits, net
Dividends paid
Repurchase of common stock
Proceeds from stock options
Intercompany advances (payments)	(20,191)	(239,981)
Other, net	(29,872)	(23,126)
Net cash used in financing activities	(50,063)	(293,938)
Effects of exchange rates on cash	(20,016)	(417)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(935,656)	(1,305,928)
Cash & cash equivalents	256,541	124,102
Repayments of Commercial Paper
Proceeds from Issuance of Commercial Paper
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Proceeds from Collection of Notes Receivable	0
Net cash used in operating activities
Purchases of AFS securities
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities
Mortgage loans held for investment, net
Capital expenditures
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired
Loans made to franchisees
Repayments from franchisees
Intercompany advances (payments)	(142,407)	(491,619)
Other, net
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(142,407)	(491,619)
Repayments of other borrowings
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt
Customer banking deposits, net	2,103	310
Dividends paid
Repurchase of common stock
Proceeds from stock options
Intercompany advances (payments)	142,407	491,619
Other, net
Net cash used in financing activities	144,510	491,929
Effects of exchange rates on cash
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	2,103	310
Cash & cash equivalents	(620)	(533)
Repayments of Commercial Paper
Proceeds from Issuance of Commercial Paper