Consolidating Financial Information (Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	$ 127,137	$ 182,246	$ 379,619		$ 587,801
Rental revenues	30,990	30,920	92,724		92,096
Financing revenues	3,156	3,152	10,223		11,394
Total segment revenues	161,283	216,318	482,566		691,291
Franchise and restaurant expenses	44,091	95,689	130,875		313,424
Rental expenses	24,149	24,237	72,953		73,075
Financing expenses	0	15	245		1,586
General and administrative expenses	35,331	48,737	105,004		125,608
Interest expense	24,979	28,896	75,230		88,767
Amortization of intangible assets	3,072	3,072	9,212		9,222
Closure and impairment charges	(392)	420	770		1,264
Gain on disposition of assets	(72)	(73,650)	(326)		(89,642)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	2,306	36	[1]	4,917	[1]
Debt modification costs	0	0	1,296		0
Intercompany dividend	0	0	0		0
Income before income taxes	30,125	86,596	87,271		163,070
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(11,395)	(26,023)	(33,365)		(54,215)
Net income	18,730	60,573	53,906		108,855
Total comprehensive income	18,733	60,578	53,901		108,999
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	700	700	2,100		1,900
Rental revenues	0	0	0		0
Financing revenues	0	0	0		0
Total segment revenues	700	700	2,100		1,900
Franchise and restaurant expenses	600	600	2,100		1,800
Rental expenses	0	0	0		0
Financing expenses	0	0	0		0
General and administrative expenses	9,000	15,800	27,700		28,900
Interest expense	24,600	26,500	74,200		80,900
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0		0
Closure and impairment charges	0	0	0		0
Gain on disposition of assets	0	0	0		0
Loss on extinguishment of debt		2,300			4,900
Debt modification costs			1,300
Intercompany dividend	(39,200)	(88,700)	(116,600)		(179,700)
Income before income taxes	5,600	44,200	13,400		65,100
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	13,100	16,500	40,500		43,600
Net income	18,700	60,600	53,900		108,700
Total comprehensive income	18,700	60,600	53,900		108,800
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	126,100	181,300	376,500		585,100
Rental revenues	31,000	30,900	92,700		92,100
Financing revenues	3,200	3,200	10,200		11,400
Total segment revenues	160,300	215,400	479,400		688,600
Franchise and restaurant expenses	43,500	95,200	128,800		311,600
Rental expenses	24,100	24,200	72,900		73,100
Financing expenses	0	0	200		1,600
General and administrative expenses	26,000	32,500	76,300		95,200
Interest expense	300	2,400	1,000		7,900
Amortization of intangible assets	3,100	3,100	9,200		9,200
Closure and impairment charges	(500)	200	500		700
Gain on disposition of assets	100	(73,300)	400		(88,500)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		0			0
Debt modification costs			0
Intercompany dividend	0	0	0		0
Income before income taxes	63,500	131,100	190,000		277,800
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(24,500)	(42,500)	(73,900)		(97,900)
Net income	39,000	88,600	116,100		179,900
Total comprehensive income	39,000	88,600	116,100		180,000
Combined Non-guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	400	300	1,000		800
Rental revenues	0	0	0		0
Financing revenues	0	0	0		0
Total segment revenues	400	300	1,000		800
Franchise and restaurant expenses	0	0	0		0
Rental expenses	0	0	0		0
Financing expenses	0	0	0		0
General and administrative expenses	300	400	900		1,400
Interest expense	0	0	0		0
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0		0
Closure and impairment charges	100	200	200		600
Gain on disposition of assets	(200)	(400)	(700)		(1,200)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		0			0
Debt modification costs			0
Intercompany dividend	0	0	0		0
Income before income taxes	200	100	500		0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0		0
Net income	200	100	500		0
Total comprehensive income	200	100	500		0
Eliminations and Reclassification
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	0	0	0		0
Rental revenues	0	0	0		0
Financing revenues	0	0	0		0
Total segment revenues	0	0	0		0
Franchise and restaurant expenses	0	0	0		0
Rental expenses	0	0	0		0
Financing expenses	0	0	0		0
General and administrative expenses	0	0	0		0
Interest expense	0	0	0		0
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0		0
Closure and impairment charges	0	0	0		0
Gain on disposition of assets	0	0	0		0
Loss on extinguishment of debt		0			0
Debt modification costs			0
Intercompany dividend	39,200	88,700	116,600		179,700
Income before income taxes	(39,200)	(88,700)	(116,600)		(179,700)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0		0
Net income	(39,200)	(88,700)	(116,600)		(179,700)
Total comprehensive income	$ (39,200)	$ (88,700)	$ (116,600)		$ (179,700)

[1] Including write-off of the discount and deferred financing costs related to the debt retired.