Income Taxes (Schedule Of Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Current deferred tax assets	$ 4,821	$ 2,770
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities, net, before valuation allowance	(22,416)	(20,839)
Valuation allowance	(7,361)	(6,389)
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities, net	(29,777)	(27,228)
Deferred tax assets (net of valuation allowance)	22,140	21,587
Deferred tax liabilities	(47,096)	(46,045)
Net deferred tax liabilities	(24,956)	(24,458)
Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Notes Receivable [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Current deferred tax assets	840	1,032
Noncurrent deferred tax assets	305	256
Capital Lease Liabilities And Other [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Current deferred tax assets	1,636	1,551
Prepaid Expenses [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Current deferred tax liabilities	(1,265)	(1,190)
Deferred Income From Franchisees [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Current deferred tax assets	461	848
Noncurrent deferred tax assets	773	1,481
Deferred Income From Affiliated Technology Fund [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Current deferred tax assets	597	353
Deferred Income [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Current deferred tax assets	1,903	10
Noncurrent deferred tax assets	1,355	1,453
Net Investment In Direct Financing Leases [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Noncurrent deferred tax assets	526	648
Investment In Partnerships, Including Differences In Capitalization, Depreciation And Direct Financing Leases [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities	(2,408)	(2,554)
State Net Operating losses [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Noncurrent deferred tax assets	7,361	6,389
Property, Equipment And Capital Leases [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities	(22,538)	(24,834)
Deferred Income From Affiliated Franchise Fees [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Noncurrent deferred tax assets	915	1,160
Accrued Liabilities And Other [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Current deferred tax assets	649	166
Noncurrent deferred tax assets	281	73
Intangibles And Other Assets [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities	(16,694)	(13,321)
Stock Compensation [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Noncurrent deferred tax assets	11,899	12,556
Debt Extinguishment [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities	$ (4,191)	$ (4,146)