UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 Current Report




                PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)       October 22, 2003
                                                --------------------------------

Commission File Number:    000-17962


                         Applebee's International, Inc.
              ----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                                      43-1461763
  ----------------------------              ------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction of           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   incorporation or organization)

          4551 W. 107th Street, Suite 100, Overland Park, Kansas 66207
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

                                 (913) 967-4000
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                      None
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




<PAGE>



Item 9.           Regulation FD Disclosure

 On October 22, 2003, Applebee's  International,  Inc. (the "Company") issued  a
press release entitled "Applebee's International to Broadcast Third Quarter 2003
Earnings  Conference Call  Over the  Internet." The  press  release  is included
below.



                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Carol DiRaimo,
          Executive Director of Investor Relations
          (913) 967-4109


            Applebee's International to Broadcast Third Quarter 2003

                   Earnings Conference Call Over the Internet

Overland  Park,  Kan.,  October  22,  2003  --  Applebee's  International,  Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  will be releasing  third quarter 2003  earnings  after the market
closes on Wednesday,  October 29, 2003, and will be hosting a conference call to
review the results on Thursday morning,  October 30, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. Central
Standard Time (11:00 a.m.  Eastern  Standard Time).  The conference call will be
broadcast live over the Internet.

To listen to the conference call, please go to the Investor Relations section of
the  company's  website  (www.applebees.com)  at least 15  minutes  prior to the
commencement of the call to register,  download, and install any necessary audio
software. A replay will be available shortly after the call.

Applebee's International,  Inc., headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., develops,
franchises and operates  restaurants under the Applebee's  Neighborhood  Grill &
Bar brand,  the largest casual dining concept in the world.  There are currently
1,554  Applebee's  restaurants  operating  system-wide  in 49  states  and  nine
international countries.  Additional information on Applebee's International can
be found at the company's website (www.applebees.com).

                                      # # #






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<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                              APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                              (Registrant)


Date:    October 23, 2003                   By:/s/ Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 ---------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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