Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - Segment, Operating Activities [Domain] - USD ($) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
		Jul. 05, 2015	Jul. 06, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings		$ 85,671	$ 72,790
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		68,205	70,585
Deferred finance cost amortization		1,690	1,677
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities		(17,781)	(15,167)
Deferred income taxes		(4,046)	(84)
Share-based compensation expense		10,041	8,128
Pension and postretirement expense		14,423	10,585
Gains on cash surrender value of company-owned life insurance		(1,960)	(8,312)
Losses (gains) on the sale of company-operated restaurants		4,353	(2,242)
Losses on the disposition of property and equipment		1,074	1,051
Impairment charges and other		4,813	8,543
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt		0	789
Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts and other receivables		(6,895)	(9,376)
Inventories		33	(516)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		20,760	(4,647)
Accounts payable		690	(3,035)
Accrued liabilities		4,215	6,950
Pension and postretirement contributions		(14,359)	(14,107)
Other		(5,782)	(9,689)
Cash flows provided by operating activities		165,145	113,923
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment		(54,832)	(43,825)
Purchases Of Assets Held For Sale And Leaseback		(8,323)	(19)
Proceeds from sale and leaseback of assets		0	5,698
Proceeds from the sale of company-operated restaurants	[1]	2,651	8,199
Collections on notes receivable		5,648	2,555
Acquisitions of franchise-operated restaurants		0	(1,750)
Other		1,888	2,838
Cash flows used in investing activities		(52,968)	(26,304)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facilities		742,000	618,000
Repayments of borrowings on revolving credit facilities		(698,000)	(460,000)
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt		300,000	200,000
Principal repayments on debt		(198,217)	(193,262)
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs		(1,942)	(3,607)
Payments of Ordinary Dividends		(26,556)	(7,990)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		14,590	27,069
Repurchases of common stock		(254,668)	(284,258)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements		17,781	15,167
Change in book overdraft		0	1,507
Cash flows used in financing activities		(105,012)	(87,374)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents		(37)	3
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		7,128	248
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		10,578	$ 9,644
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$ 17,706

[1] Amounts in 2015 and 2014 include additional proceeds recognized upon the extension of the underlying franchise and lease agreements related to restaurants sold in a prior year of $0.1 million and $0.4 million, respectively, in the quarter, and $0.2 million and $1.5 million, respectively, year-to-date.