Receivables (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 57,300,000	$ 55,200,000
Gift card receivables	37,700,000	25,500,000
Credit card receivables	3,300,000	5,400,000
Notes receivable	1,800,000	1,800,000
Other	9,900,000	7,100,000
Receivables	345,800,000	344,900,000
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts	(3,600,000)	(6,200,000)
Receivables, net	342,200,000	338,700,000
Less: current portion	(115,667,000)	(98,776,000)
Long-term receivables	226,526,000	239,945,000
Equipment Lease Receivable Average Annual Interest Rate	9.92%	10.13%
IHOP Franchise Fee Notes 5-8 Yrs Average Annual Interest Rate	7.40%	7.67%
Minimum Days Outstanding Before Delinquent	90 days
Amount of Financing Receivables Delinquent	300,000
Amount of Financing Receivables Included in Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	200,000
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	6,200,000	3,400,000	2,900,000
Provisions	400,000	3,400,000	1,700,000
Charge-offs	(3,100,000)	(800,000)	(1,300,000)
Recoveries	100,000	200,000	100,000
Balance at end of period	3,600,000	6,200,000	3,400,000
Equipment Leases Receivable [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing receivable	131,500,000	139,000,000
Direct Financing Leases [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing receivable	100,000,000	104,600,000
Franchise Fee Note Receivable [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing receivable	$ 4,300,000	$ 6,300,000
Minimum [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Franchise Fee Notes Receivable Lease Term	5 years
Maximum [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Franchise Fee Notes Receivable Lease Term	8 years