Property (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014 property	Dec. 31, 2013 property
Real Estate Investment Property [Line Items]
Number of operating properties sold	11	20
Proceeds from sale and disposition of property	$ 78.7
Gain on sale of property	18.3
Number of properties held for sale	1	8
Property held for sale	$ 3.8	$ 155.0
Center Sold Not Including Held For Sale [Member]
Real Estate Investment Property [Line Items]
Number of operating properties sold	3

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of investments in land and buildings held for sale, excluding real estate considered to be inventory of the entity.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(f))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateHeldforsale
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of real estate properties, buildings or undeveloped land parcels held for sale in the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationRealEstatePropertiesHeldforSale
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the amount of gain (loss) on sale of properties including discontinued operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_GainsLossesonSalesofProperties
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross cash received from the sale of real estate that is held for investment, that is, it is part of an investing activity during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_GrossProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of real estate properties, buildings or undeveloped land parcels sold during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesSold
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	wri_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration