Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Franchise Revenue	$ 102,459,000	$ 98,551,000	$ 210,868,000	$ 203,103,000
Food and Beverage Revenue	93,802,000	134,634,000	194,687,000	289,337,000
Rental income	29,171,000	31,624,000	61,176,000	63,840,000
Financial Services Revenue	3,959,000	3,529,000	8,242,000	12,258,000
Revenues	229,391,000	268,338,000	474,973,000	568,538,000
Interest expense	29,650,000	32,867,000	59,871,000	69,173,000
Interest Expense	34,100,000	37,500,000	68,700,000	78,700,000
Depreciation and amortization	10,500,000	13,100,000	20,956,000	26,339,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	27,427,000	1,837,000	76,474,000	43,012,000
Franchise Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Franchise Revenue	102,500,000	98,600,000	210,900,000	203,100,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,500,000	2,600,000	4,900,000	5,100,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	76,200,000	72,400,000	156,900,000	149,400,000
Company Restaurants [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Food and Beverage Revenue	93,800,000	134,600,000	194,700,000	289,300,000
Interest expense	100,000	100,000	200,000	300,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,300,000	4,600,000	4,700,000	9,500,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	14,200,000	17,300,000	30,900,000	40,300,000
Rental Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	29,100,000	31,600,000	61,200,000	63,800,000
Interest expense	4,300,000	4,500,000	8,600,000	9,200,000
Depreciation and amortization	3,400,000	3,500,000	6,900,000	7,100,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	4,800,000	7,000,000	12,300,000	14,600,000
Financing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Financial Services Revenue	4,000,000	3,500,000	8,200,000	12,300,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,100,000	3,600,000	6,700,000	6,700,000
Corproate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	29,700,000	32,900,000	59,900,000	69,200,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,300,000	2,400,000	4,500,000	4,600,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ (70,900,000)	$ (98,500,000)	$ (130,300,000)	$ (168,000,000)