Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Franchise Revenue	$ 102,674,000	$ 97,679,000	$ 313,542,000	$ 300,782,000
Food and Beverage Revenue	79,572,000	131,618,000	274,259,000	420,955,000
Rental income	30,920,000	31,163,000	92,096,000	95,003,000
Financial Services Revenue	3,152,000	4,021,000	11,394,000	16,279,000
Revenues	216,318,000	264,481,000	691,291,000	833,019,000
Interest expense	28,896,000	32,170,000	88,767,000	101,343,000
Interest Expense	33,200,000	36,700,000	101,900,000	115,300,000
Depreciation and amortization	9,800,000	12,300,000	30,756,000	38,599,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	86,596,000	25,227,000	163,070,000	68,239,000
Franchise Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Franchise Revenue	102,700,000	97,700,000	313,500,000	300,800,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,500,000	2,300,000	7,400,000	7,400,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	75,500,000	72,700,000	232,400,000	222,100,000
Company Restaurants
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Food and Beverage Revenue	79,600,000	131,600,000	274,300,000	421,000,000
Interest expense	100,000	100,000	300,000	400,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,600,000	4,000,000	6,400,000	13,500,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	11,000,000	17,600,000	42,000,000	57,900,000
Rental Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	30,900,000	31,200,000	92,100,000	95,000,000
Interest expense	4,200,000	4,400,000	12,800,000	13,600,000
Depreciation and amortization	3,400,000	3,500,000	10,300,000	10,500,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,700,000	6,700,000	19,000,000	21,300,000
Financing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Financial Services Revenue	3,200,000	4,000,000	11,400,000	16,300,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,200,000	3,600,000	9,800,000	10,300,000
Corproate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	28,900,000	32,200,000	88,800,000	101,300,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,300,000	2,500,000	6,700,000	7,200,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ (9,800,000)	$ (75,400,000)	$ (140,100,000)	$ (243,400,000)