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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 29, 2012 | Sep. 24, 2011 | Sep. 25, 2010
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |  |  |
Limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership (in hundredths) | 100.00% |  |
Minimum number of weeks in the fiscal year reporting calendar | 52 |  |
Maximum number of weeks in the fiscal year reporting calendar | 53 |  |
Minimum number of weeks in a fiscal quarter | 13 |  |
Maximum number of weeks in a fiscal quarter | 14 |  |
Goodwill [Abstract] |  |  |
Projection period of estimated cash flows | 10 years |  |
Interest Rate Risk [Abstract] |  |  |
Description of applicable interest rate on borrowings | A portion of the Partnership's borrowings bear interest at prevailing interest rates based upon, at the Operating Partnership's option, LIBOR plus an applicable margin or the base rate, defined as the higher of the Federal Funds Rate plus .5 of 1% or the agent bank's prime rate, or LIBOR plus 1%, plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin is dependent on the level of the Partnership's total leverage (the ratio of total debt to income before deducting interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA")). Therefore, the Partnership is subject to interest rate risk on the variable component of the interest rate. The Partnership manages part of its variable interest rate risk by entering into interest rate swap agreements. The interest rate swaps have been designated as, and are accounted for as, cash flow hedges. The fair value of the interest rate swaps are determined using an income approach, whereby future settlements under the swaps are converted into a single present value, with fair value being based on the value of current market expectations about those future amounts. Changes in the fair value are recognized in OCI until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. However, due to changes in the underlying interest rate environment, the corresponding value in OCI is subject to change prior to its impact on earnings. |  |
Income Taxes [Abstract] |  |  |
Number of limited partnerships included in the partnership structure | 2 |  |
Net Income Per Unit [Abstract] |  |  |
Additional dilutive common units included in computation of diluted income per Common Unit (in units) | 141,570 | 198,298 | 238,589
Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member] |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |
Stated interest rate (in hundredths) | 7.50% |  |
Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |
Stated interest rate (in hundredths) | 7.50% |  |
Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member] |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |
Stated interest rate (in hundredths) | 7.375% |  |
Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |
Stated interest rate (in hundredths) | 7.375% |  |
Buildings [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Maximum estimated useful life (in years) | 40 |  |
Building and land improvements [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Minimum estimated useful life (in years) | 20 |  |
Maximum estimated useful life (in years) | 40 |  |
Transportation equipment [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Minimum estimated useful life (in years) | 3 |  |
Maximum estimated useful life (in years) | 20 |  |
Storage facilities [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Minimum estimated useful life (in years) | 7 |  |
Maximum estimated useful life (in years) | 40 |  |
Office equipment [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Minimum estimated useful life (in years) | 5 |  |
Maximum estimated useful life (in years) | 10 |  |
Equipment, primarily tanks and cylinders [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Minimum estimated useful life (in years) | 15 |  |
Maximum estimated useful life (in years) | 40 |  |
Weighted average useful life of the asset (in years) | 28 |  |
Computer software [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Minimum estimated useful life (in years) | 3 |  |
Maximum estimated useful life (in years) | 7 |  |

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