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)       September 9, 2004
                                                --------------------------------



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


            Delaware                   000-17962               43-1461763
  ------------------------------      ------------       -----------------------
 (State or other jurisdiction of      (Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)       File Number)         Identification No.)

                4551 W. 107th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66207
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              (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)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ]  Written  communications  pursuant  to Rule  425  under  the  Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement  communications   pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement  communications   pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

<PAGE>



Item 7.01.           Regulation FD Disclosure

     On September 9, 2004, Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") issued
a press release entitled "Applebee's International Outlines Future Growth Plans;
Development Potential of Applebee's Concept Increased to at Least 3,000 Domestic
Restaurants; Company Continues to Expect Long-term EPS Growth of 14-17 Percent."
The release contained the following information.

                                                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Carol DiRaimo,
         Vice President of Investor Relations
         (913) 967-4109

              Applebee's International Outlines Future Growth Plans

                   Development Potential of Applebee's Concept
                Increased to at Least 3,000 Domestic Restaurants

        Company Continues to Expect Long-term EPS Growth of 14-17 Percent

Overland Park, Kan., September 9, 2004 -- At a company-sponsored conference held
today, Applebee's  International,  Inc. (Nasdaq:APPB) reviewed its future growth
plans with analysts and investors.  Lloyd L. Hill,  chairman and chief executive
officer, and several members of the Applebee's  management team presented topics
ranging from the increased  domestic  potential of the  Applebee's  system to an
update of the company's long-term growth and earnings outlook.

Mr. Hill said,  "The momentum and  marketplace  success we've  achieved over the
past few years is a direct result of our singular focus on the Applebee's  brand
and the pipeline of  innovation  that we've built over that time. As the largest
casual dining concept in the world, we know that a unique  opportunity exists to
leverage our brand, system size and scale to optimize future growth."

David L. Goebel,  chief operating officer,  reviewed Applebee's  development and
operating strategies.  Mr. Goebel said, "As a result of our continued success in
penetrating  markets  of  various  sizes,  overall  category  growth  and future
consumer  demand,  we  now  believe  the  ultimate  domestic  potential  of  the
Applebee's  system to be at least 3,000 units, a 30% increase from the potential
we believe existed a little over two years ago."


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<PAGE>


John C. Cywinski,  chief marketing  officer,  discussed the company's  marketing
strategies.  Mr. Cywinski said, "We are clearly in an era of big power brands in
casual dining. These are brands that can use national media to increase consumer
awareness  and gain market share.  Recognizing  this  opportunity,  beginning in
2005,  the  required  contribution  to the  national  advertising  fund for both
company and franchise  restaurants will increase by 0.5% to 2.75% of sales while
the amount  required to be spent  locally will  decrease  0.5% to 1.0% of sales.
This shift will allow us to convey multiple  messages on a national level to our
guests,   including  our  branded  campaign  events,   Carside  To  Go(TM),  our
partnership with Weight Watchers, and our neighborhood branding messages."

Steven K. Lumpkin,  chief financial officer,  discussed the use of the company's
strong  balance  sheet and  substantial  free cash  flow for  increased  company
development,  future franchise  acquisitions and stock repurchases.  Mr. Lumpkin
said, "The strategies we outlined today will provide us with a solid  foundation
for continued  growth. We continue to expect annual earnings per share growth of
14 to 17 percent  over the next three to five years  beginning  in 2005.  We are
also committed to maintaining our return on equity,  which is already one of the
highest in the industry, of at least 20 percent."

Mr. Hill  concluded,  "Given our current view of the potential of the Applebee's
brand,  we still believe that we do not need another  concept to meet our growth
targets  over  the  next  three  to  five  years.   Although  we  will  be  both
opportunistic  and  selective  about  making an  acquisition,  any interest in a
second  concept  will not be at the  expense  of  maximizing  the core  value of
Applebee's."

BUSINESS OUTLOOK

The company provided guidance as to its future growth for the next three to five
years beginning in fiscal year 2005.

     o   System-wide  unit  growth  is  expected  to be  between 7 and 8 percent
         annually.

     o   System-wide  comparable  sales are expected to increase  annually by at
         least 3 to 4 percent.



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<PAGE>



     o   The  combination  of  restaurant   operating  margin  and  general  and
         administrative  expense leverage,  stock repurchase  activity,  and the
         impact of potential franchise acquisitions are expected to contribute 4
         to 5 percent to annual earnings per share growth.

     o   Earnings  per share for the next  three to five years are  expected  to
         increase annually by 14 to 17 percent.

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.  As of September 9,
2004, there were 1,633 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).

Certain statements  contained in this release,  including those set forth in the
Business Outlook section, are forward-looking and based on current expectations.
There are several  risks and  uncertainties  that could cause actual  results to
differ materially from those described, including but not limited to the ability
of the company and its  franchisees to open and operate  additional  restaurants
profitably,  the ability of its franchisees to obtain  financing,  the continued
growth of its  franchisees,  and its  ability  to attract  and retain  qualified
franchisees,  the impact of intense  competition in the casual dining segment of
the  restaurant  industry,  and the  company's  ability  to  control  restaurant
operating  costs which are  impacted by market  changes,  minimum wage and other
employment  laws,  food costs and inflation.  For  additional  discussion of the
principal  factors that could cause actual  results to be materially  different,
the reader is referred to the  company's  current  report on Form 8-K filed with
the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on February  11,  2004.  The company
disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

                                      # # #

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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:    September, 9 2004                 By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 ------------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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