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Financial Instruments and Risk Management (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 29, 2012 | Sep. 24, 2011 | Sep. 25, 2010
Asset Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Beginning balance of over-the-counter options | $ 1,780 | $ 1,509 |
Beginning balance realized during the period | (1,168) | (1,509) |
Change in the fair value of beginning balance | 1,059 | 0 |
Contracts purchased during the period | 3,331 | 1,780 |
Ending balance of over-the-counter options | 5,002 | 1,780 |
Liability Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Beginning balance of over-the-counter options | 118 | 30 |
Beginning balance realized during the period | (49) | (30) |
Change in the fair value of beginning balance | 120 | 0 |
Contracts purchased during the period | 1,020 | 118 |
Ending balance of over-the-counter options | 1,209 | 118 |
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract] |  |  |
Number of Propane Gallons | 44,531 |  |
Weighted average maturity of outstanding commodity-related derivatives (in months) | 4 |  |
Concentrations [Abstract] |  |  |
Number of locations served by the Partnership | 750 |  |
Number of states which the Partnership operates | 41 |  |
Bank Debt and Senior Notes [Abstract] |  |  |
Fair Value of Senior Notes | 531,316 | 272,500 | 542,460
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Revenues [Member] |  |  |
Concentrations [Abstract] |  |  |
Minimum concentration risk threshold accounted for by a single customer or supplier (in hundredths) | 10.00% | 10.00% | 10.00%
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member] | Propane Purchases [Member] |  |  |
Concentrations [Abstract] |  |  |
Minimum concentration risk threshold accounted for by a single customer or supplier (in hundredths) | 10.00% |  |
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member] | Propane Purchases [Member] | Traga Liquids Marketing and Trade [Member] |  |  |
Concentrations [Abstract] |  |  |
Concentration percentage of propane supply provided by suppliers (in hundredths) | 16.00% |  |
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member] | Propane Purchases [Member] | Enterprise Products Operating L.P. [Member] |  |  |
Concentrations [Abstract] |  |  |
Concentration percentage of propane supply provided by suppliers (in hundredths) | 13.00% |  |
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member] | Propane Purchases [Member] | Phillips 66 [Member] |  |  |
Concentrations [Abstract] |  |  |
Concentration percentage of propane supply provided by suppliers (in hundredths) | 11.00% |  |
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member] | Propane Purchases [Member] | Inergy Services [Member] |  |  |
Concentrations [Abstract] |  |  |
Concentration percentage of propane supply provided by suppliers (in hundredths) | 11.00% |  |
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair value - liabilities | 5,477 | 4,596 |
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Other Liabilities [Member] |  |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair value - liabilities | 3,047 | 1,934 |
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member] |  |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair value - liabilities | 2,430 | 2,662 |
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair Value - assets | 5,133 | 5,454 |
Fair value - liabilities | 8,742 | 2,476 |
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Liabilities [Member] |  |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair value - liabilities | 22 | 69 |
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member] |  |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair value - liabilities | 8,720 | 2,407 |
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Commodity-related derivatives [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member] |  |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair Value - assets | 4,523 | 4,842 |
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Commodity-related derivatives [Member] | Other Assets [Member] |  |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair Value - assets | $ 610 | $ 612 |

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- Definition This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in earnings or resulted in a change in net asset value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph c(1) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition The increase (decrease) of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) which have taken place during the period. Such increase (decrease) may be comprised of changes in fair value (gains or losses) whether realized or unrealized that have been included in earnings, changed net asset value, or other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity); purchases, sales, issuances, or settlements of assets; and net transfers in to or out of this category within the fair value hierarchy. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph c(1), c(2), c(3) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition Purchases that have taken place during the period in relation to assets measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in earnings or resulted in a change in net asset value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph c(1) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition This element represents a liability measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which is required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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