Top 10 UNTOLD TRUTHS of Disney's Giant Turkey Legs

What's the first thing you notice when you walk into a Disney theme park, other than that

giant

castle on Main Street? People walking around munching on “nice and juicy”

giant

-sized

turkey

legs

. Considered one of the most popular snacks in the parks, there is a lot of mystery surrounding these

turkey

legs

. So let's look at 10 facts about Disney's famous turkey legs. They are definitely not emu legs. Before we begin, let's debunk this myth. There is an urban legend that dates back to the early '90s, right around the time when Disney's giant turkey legs were becoming very popular.

It was rumored that, due to their large size, they were actually not turkey legs, but emu legs. Some employees (disgruntled or not) said they were actually emus and the story stuck. Not helping the situation, the rumor resurfaced in 2017, after actor Zachary Levi appeared on The Conan Show and confirmed that some friends who worked at Disney told him the same story. Notice how they taste more like ham than turkey. Emu meat has a spicier flavor and darker color. Disney eventually issued a statement debunking this claim. They said the reason the turkey legs were so big was because the legs they used to make this popular snack were actually made from male turkey called Tom's.

Male turkeys can reach up to 50 pounds. in size and their legs are considerably larger than females. These are not the typical birds we find on our table at Thanksgiving. The Disney corporation is very careful to buy only the largest ones to keep up with standards. Disney has come out time and time again to dispel this urban myth, but people seem to love a good story. On Everyone's Bucket List Turkey legs are so popular at Disney that guests have them on their list of things to eat and do during their visit. That's just one of the reasons they sell so many!

Compounded by the fact that numerous travel websites list it as a "must experience" while you are there. The Disney Turkey Legs have a pretty die-hard following and you can't go around banging on them, or Mickey might just give you the nod. It's like they bring out our inner Fred Flintstones when biting into one of these oversized, deliciously succulent turkey legs. These snacks debuted at Big Al's Coonskin Caps in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom in the late 1980s. As they became more popular, they migrated to the West Coast, to Disneyland in California. There is still an exclusive turkey leg cart in Frontierland and others can be found at Liberty Market, Prince Eric Village Market in Fantasyland, and Yak & Yeti.

As a snack or meal, they can also be easily shared due to their size. For those who want to relax, have a beer while eating these monsters, your best option is at Epcot at Fife & Drum Tavern in the American Adventure Pavilion. Disney's Blizzard Beach water park at Arctic Expeditions also sells them. A good source of protein, Disney Turkey Legs will help you get through a few hours of hiking. So, jump on the bandwagon, you don't know what you're missing until you try one. Turkey Leg Sales Are Astronomical Tomorrowland isn't the only astronomical thing at Disney! Sales of turkey legs are skyrocketing.

Between Disneyland and Walt Disney World, not counting other international theme parks around the world, a 2016 census revealed that annual sales can reach 1.8 million. That's a whopping £3.6 million. of meat annually and sales increase and peak during the Thanksgiving weekend. That's a lot of Türkiye! In addition to Mickey's ice cream bars, which are another of the park's best sellers, turkey legs remain a popular item since their inception. Food is not cheap at Disney. If you want to eat three quick meals a day, the average cost is between $30 and $60 per day per person. Once you start adding dinners, snacks, and bottled water, the cost skyrockets.

Disney is a huge profit making machine and has been since the 1950s. As for finding the famous giant turkey legs at Tomorrowland, you can find a turkey leg cart located near the Rocket Tower Plaza stage. It can take you to the moon and back, all depending on your taste buds. He is not heavy. He's my brother. These turkey legs sound like a mouthful! But the size isn't the most impressive thing about Disneyland turkey legs, the weight is too! Each thigh weighs approximately 1.5 pounds. During the Thanksgiving holiday, the average human consumes approximately 1.25 pounds per person, including leftovers.

Disney's turkey legs may look huge and filling, but the actual portion of meat isn't too excessive. You can always share your portion with someone. Healthy or not? That's another topic! The legs are cured with a saline solution, which can make them very salty, but also very tasty and juicy. Calorie-wise, they are much more than a Big Mac and contain about 1,000 calories each. We will not go into the fat and salt content. Let's say that eating too many will definitely make you very fat or very sick. Nowadays, everyone is turning to healthier eating options. Disney theme parks are no exception, they are working hard to change their menus.

They now offer a wide variety of options and have incorporated more salads and vegan food. You might have to walk a few miles to burn off calories after eating one of these Disney turkey legs. So, go ahead, there's nothing wrong with trying one, but don't try to eat 10! Tastes like ham One of the reasons the urban emu myth surrounding giant turkey legs is so hard to dispel is because they tend to taste more like ham than turkey. The method to madness, and that distinctive flavor is the secret ingredient. This iconic snack is actually a smoking sodium bomb.

First of all, Disney only buys their big male turkey legs at Uncle John's Pride. These 1.5 pound thighs are not only heavy but the meat is tough. To tenderize the dark meat and preserve it, they inject it with a salty pink curing brine, the same one used for corned beef. They are then cured for 24 hours or more and then smoked in a smoker for six hours. That's why they taste like ham and look pink. It is the same basic process as curing a ham. It makes the turkey legs taste very salty, but this probably benefits Disney as they probably sell a lot more drinks because of this.

Disney's turkey legs have made the front page of the New York Times and spawned tons of copycat recipes on the Internet. Here we give you some advice, if you can make them at home they can be even better and you can regulate the salt content. Historical value Disneyland in California was the first Disney theme park to open. The idea arose from Walt Disney's desire to have “a place where parents and children could have fun at the same time.” It opened in 1955 and, after a shaky start, continued to grow and attract visitors from all over the world.

Disneyland even hosted a world's fair in 1964. During this time, Walt Disney was also secretly scouting new sites for a second Disney theme park in Florida. In 1971, Disney World's Magic Kingdom opened, but unfortunately Walt Disney never saw his dream come true. He died in 1966, five years before the new park opened. It wasn't until 18 years later that Jumbo turkey legs as we know them today debuted in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. Reminiscent of large caveman-style dinosaur bones, they always seemed like relics of the past. The legs were first sold for about 9 dollars, today they sell for about 12 dollars. It's not a huge increase in 30 years, but you won't be able to gnaw like velociraptors forever on Jumbo Turkey Legs, as they may eventually become a relic of the past.

Turkey Leg Merchandise Leave it to Disney Corporation to always go for something good. One of the marketing tricks to further increase the profits of one of their beloved foods was to take the turkey leg to the next level with many marketing options. In addition to making huge profits selling giant turkey legs and other foods on concessional terms, they have gone further by not only posting pictures of turkey legs and funny sayings about them throughout the park, trying to incite curiosity and taste buds. But back in 2010, Magic Kingdom boutiques and kiosks began selling souvenirs such as hats, pins, sweatshirts and T-shirts printed with the slogan “Nice & Juicy.” They even sold car air fresheners.

Not sure if the smell of freshly smoked turkey legs is a good idea for your car? But people bought them anyway, hopefully as a gag gift. It reminded them of the delicious aroma that wafted through the park during their visit. Dole Whips and Mickey Bar scents may sound great. The pleasant aroma of freshly baked bread or the sweetness of a chocolate shop, but air fresheners with meat delicacies seem a bit excessive. Rice Krispy treats shaped like giant chocolate-dipped turkey legs are great. There is no doubt that turkey legs are very popular and visitors seek them out.

They have been a proverbial favorite for the last three decades. Long live Disney's Jumbo Turkey Legs. Front Page of the New York Times You know you've made it when you land on the front page of the New York Times. In 2013, right around the time that Disney's famous turkey legs were increasing in sales, an article appeared on the front page of the New York Times titled “Turkey Legs Conquer the Land of Mouse Ears.” The article revealed how big the popularity of these Jumbo thigh snacks had become. But not everyone is a big fan. People feel like it's more of a rite of passage and a “must do,” according to all the travel websites.

As for liking them, that's subjective, sometimes they're dry and not what you'd expect at all. Diehard lovers of Disney turkey legs disagree; They love everything about them. Disney executives are concerned that this trend will promote unhealthy eating. Its popularity is also blocking their efforts to improve the overall food offering. Some parents have resorted to bringing their own healthy foods. If this continues, it won't be long before sales drop and the Disney turkey leg may be harder to find. Disney is making changes by offering healthier foods and reducing salt in children's meals. However, lovers of Jumbo turkey legs have stated their demands and “don't want to walk all over the park to get one.

When they want one, they want it now. Turkey Legs Sold Elsewhere We may know them as a cult favorite at Disney theme parks, but giant turkey legs didn't originate in the house Mickey built. Disney trademarked the name and increased its popularity among the 73 million visitors who pass through its doors annually. But Disney is far from the only supplier of dinosaur-sized turkey legs. Many fairs, carnivals and food stands have sold them in the United States for decades. They can definitely be found at the annual State Fair of Texas for as long as we can remember. Many other county fairs have also long featured them as a signature snack.

Sea World, Universal Studios and Six Flags sell turkey legs. In most U.S. theme parks, where they are sold, they far outperform any other snack. Whether roasted or smoked, the smell is so intoxicating that it's hard for anyone to resist wanting a bite. Popular since medieval times, they are an easy snack: easy to hold and easy to eat with one hand. That's why it's good to know that no one has to wait until Thanksgiving; Nowadays you can get turkey legs almost anywhere. True Cult's classic jumbo turkey legs may be a fan favorite, but the truth is, times have changed even at Disney, a place where no one grows up.

With increasing demand for healthier options, the Disney Turkey Leg is being replaced in some outlets due to menu changes. With constant changes, it is sometimes difficult to keep track of where they are sold, sometimes sending customers on a wild goose chase for turkey. However, the giant turkey leg is the most iconic food at Disneyland and Disney World and many want to keep it that way. There are some pretty die-hard fans. The cult they follow is so deep-rooted that they would never let the famous turkey legs disappear and be lost to history. However, despite all the changes, there should always be a place where you can find the delicious turkey legs at Disney, because the demand is still strong and sometimes the voices of the fans say it all.

For many, eating at a Disney park is as important an attraction as the attractions. But now might be the time to call out your inner caveman and get a giant turkey leg at Disney because, just like cavemen, they too may disappear one day.Go ahead and tap another video, hit the subscribe button and ring the notification bell.