As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 20, 2004
                                                      Registration No. 333-87890

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


                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                         APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

                             4551 West 107th Street
                           Overland Park, Kansas 66207
          (Address, including zip code, of Principal Executive Offices)

           APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC. 1999 EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                  Lloyd L. Hill
                             Chief Executive Officer
                         Applebee's International, Inc.
                             4551 West 107th Street
                           Overland Park, Kansas 66207
                                 (913) 967-4000
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:
                               James M. Ash, Esq.
                       Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP
                               Two Pershing Square
                          2300 Main Street, Suite 1000
                           Kansas City, Missouri 64108
                                 (816) 983-8000



This  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 1 is being filed to reflect,  in accordance
with Rule 416(b),  that the number of shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share,  of the Registrant  covered by this  Registration  Statement is increased
from 600,000 to 900,000 as the result of a subsequent 3 for 2 stock split of the
Company,  effected  in the form of a 50% stock  dividend,  which  increased  the
number of shares which may be issued under the 1999 Employee  Incentive Plan. No
filing fee is necessary.  This  Registration  Statement  shall also be deemed to
cover any additional  shares which may be issued as the result of a future stock
split, stock dividend or other anti-dilution provision.






                               EXPLANATORY NOTE TO
                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1

         In May of 2002,  the board of  directors of the  Registrant  approved a
three-for-two stock split of the Company's Common Stock, effected in the form of
a 50% stock dividend (the "Stock Split").  The 1999 Employee Incentive Plan (the
"Plan")  provides  that the number of shares of Common  Stock that may be issued
under the Plan may be increased in the event of a stock split, stock dividend or
other anti-dilution  provision. The purpose of this Post-Effective Amendment No.
1 is to reflect,  in accordance  with Rule 416(b) of the Securities Act of 1933,
as  amended,   the  change  in  the  amount  of  shares  registered  under  this
Registration  Statement, on account of the Stock Split, from 600,000 to 900,000.
This  Registration  Statement  shall also be deemed to register  any  additional
shares which may be issued under the Plan as a result of a future stock split or
stock dividend or other anti-dilution provision.

                                     Part II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 8:   Exhibits

         23.1     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.




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                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements for filing this Post-Effective  Amendment No. 1 and has duly caused
this  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  1 to  be  signed  on  its  behalf  by  the
undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of Overland Park, State of
Kansas, on May 18, 2004.

                                     APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                                     By: /s/ Lloyd L. Hill
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Lloyd L. Hill
                                        Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post
Effective  Amendment No. 1 has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:




               Signature                                    Title                                  Date
                                                                                        

  /s/ Lloyd L. Hill                         Director, Chairman of the Board and                May 18, 2004
------------------------------------              Chief Executive Officer
             Lloyd L. Hill                     (Principal Executive Officer)



  /s/ Steven K. Lumpkin                    Director, Executive Vice President and              May 18, 2004
------------------------------------              Chief Financial Officer
           Steven K. Lumpkin                    (Principal Financial Officer)


  /s/ Beverly O. Elving                          Vice President, Accounting                    May 18, 2004
------------------------------------           (Principal Accounting Officer)
           Beverly O. Elving


                  *                                       Director                             May 18, 2004
------------------------------------
             Erline Belton


                  *                                       Director                             May 18, 2004
------------------------------------
           Douglas R. Conant


                  *                                       Director                             May 18, 2004
------------------------------------
           D. Patrick Curran


                  *                                       Director                             May 18, 2004
------------------------------------
            Eric L. Hansen


                  *                                       Director                             May 18, 2004
------------------------------------
            Mark S. Hansen

                                       3


                  *                                       Director                             May 18, 2004
------------------------------------
             Jack P. Helms


                  *                                       Director                             May 18, 2004
------------------------------------
            Burton M. Sack


                                                          Director                             May 18, 2004
------------------------------------
          Michael A. Volkema



*  By:   /s/ Robert T. Steinkamp
      --------------------------------------
         As Attorney-in-fact

Date:    May 18, 2004


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                                Index of Exhibits

       Exhibit
       Number     Document

         23.1     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.







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