âSome people go to Disney for the magic, excitement, rides, characters, etc.,â Kevin W. of Elburn, Illinois, wrote on Yelp in December 2013. âI come for the turkey legs.â
He didnât stop there: âI swear, these turkey legs are stuffed with all the leftover magic and wonderment left in Disney World. They are amazing and the reason I can tolerate thousands of children kicking and screaming all around me with their worn down parents.â
Mere weeks later, The New York Times published a feature entitled âTurkey Legs Conquer Land of Mouse Ears,â which stated that sales of the âbulbous, chewy, piping hot drumsticks the size of Fred Flintstoneâs forearmâ had skyrocketed roughly 25 percent in three years. The clamor may have reached a fever pitch around 2013âthanks in no small part to the viral nature of social mediaâbut the smoky snack itself wasnât new. Nor did it originate on Mickey Mouseâs playground.
In May 1963, married couple Phyllis and Ron Patterson of Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, organized the inaugural Renaissance Pleasure Faire at a North Hollywood childrenâs camp known as Haskellâs Rascals Ranch. Some 3000 revelers attended the two-day fête, which is widely considered the first modern Renaissance fair.
The Pattersons expanded the annual event over multiple weekends in subsequent years, and by the 1970s similar festivals were beginning to pop up all over the country. Donning your best doublet or puffy-sleeved gown to hobnob with jousters, jesters, and thespians was proving to be a surprisingly popular pastime. And with all that merrymaking, of course, came plenty of eating and drinking.
The handheld meat quickly became a mainstay of Ren fair fare, along with other old-timey offerings like mead and tarts. While the âwell, actuallyâ contingent might be inclined to argue that turkey legs in this context are a bit anachronistic, it really depends on what context youâre talking about.Â
That said, many fairs are much less concerned with period precision than with celebrating our collective portrait of medieval timesâwhich, considering the number of people who show up dressed as elves and wizards, is probably just as influenced by fantasy content as it is by anything we learned in school. And pointing out the historical inaccuracy of a personâs lunch seems a little irrelevant when youâre standing near someone cosplaying a centaur.
In any case, when Dave Jarrett came across a turkey leg at a fair in 1989, he didnât see an anachronismâhe saw an opportunity.
Turkey legs have become a wildly popular snack food, especially at theme parks and festivals. Known for their large size, turkey legs often leave people wondering – why are they so big compared to what you would get on a whole turkey? As a turkey leg enthusiast, I set out to uncover the truth behind their mammoth size.
A Little History
While turkey legs were not actually eaten during medieval times they became popular fare at Renaissance fairs in the 1960s. The giant turkey leg made its debut at Disneyland and Walt Disney World in the late 1980s. Originally sold from just one food cart in Frontierland they quickly became a fan favorite.
Other theme parks and festivals followed suit, and the jumbo turkey leg grew into an iconic snack across the country. Annual sales at Disney’s parks alone top 2 million turkey legs! They’ve expanded from a tasty treat to being featured on merchandise and touted as a symbol of Disney’s parks.
Why So Big?
There are two main reasons turkey legs at theme parks are substantially larger than those on a whole roast turkey:
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They come from male turkeys. The legs are from tom turkeys, or male turkeys, which are much larger than hens. Toms can reach over 40 pounds, while hens average 16 pounds. This allows for a turkey leg to weigh around 1.5 pounds.
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Selective breeding enhances size. Turkey legs are specifically bred to be bigger than those on commercially raised birds. Turkey suppliers that provide Disney’s parks look for the biggest, meatiest legs they can find. Through selective breeding, the supplier has created turkey legs that are nearly double the typical roasted turkey leg.
Questionable Contents
The giant turkey leg’s contents have come under scrutiny over the years Some key facts
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It is 100% turkey meat – contrary to rumors, it does not contain emu, ostrich or other meats. The strong cured flavor leads some to think it’s ham.
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Salt content is high – turkey legs are cured in a salt solution giving them a ham-like flavor. One leg has over 5000 mg of sodium.
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High in fat and calories – estimated to have 720 calories and 36 grams of fat due to the curing process and an entire leg’s worth of meat.
While the turkey legs live up to their reputation as an indulgent, carnival-style snack, they remain a beloved treat for many theme park goers.
Behind the Scenes Secrets
After uncovering the history and science behind their supersized shape, I dug into some insider info on Disney’s famous turkey legs:
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Cast members report legs must weigh at least 1.5 pounds to meet Disney’s size standards. Legs not meeting the minimum weight are rejected.
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Over 2 million turkey legs are sold annually across Disney’s parks in Orlando and Anaheim.
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Select breeding allows suppliers to source turkeys with the largest, meatiest legs to create Disney’s signature snack.
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Turkey legs used to cost just $9.49 but have risen in price over the years to $12.50 currently.
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Images of turkey legs have been used by Disney for fun merchandise like t-shirts, boxer shorts and even air fresheners!
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Disney does not publish exact nutrition info but experts estimate 720 calories and 36 grams of fat per leg.
Why I Love Them
As someone who orders a turkey leg every time I visit a theme park, here’s why I’m a fan:
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Portable -easy to carry around the park compared to other meat options like ribs.
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Meaty – lots of juicy, smoked meat in each bite. Far more satisfying than a traditional roasted leg.
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Flavorful – the cured ham-like taste is bold and addicting.
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Nostalgic – brings me right back to childhood trips and carnival memories.
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Shareable – each leg is so big, it can easily be split between 2-3 people.
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Instagrammable – the visually striking, almost comically large snack makes for a great foodie photo.
Do turkey legs deserve the hype? I say yes! Their unique origin story, hefty proportions, and nostalgic fun make turkey legs a one-of-a-kind treat.
The Turkey Leg’s Medieval Origins
While turkey legs were not actually eaten during medieval times, they became popular fare at Renaissance fairs starting in the 1960s. These festivals helped introduce turkey legs to the masses by serving large, meaty snacks that could be eaten by hand. An Ohio Renaissance Festival even claims to sell some of the biggest turkey legs, weighing around 2 pounds each!
Though not historically accurate, the giant turkey leg’s primal nature made it a perfect food item for Renaissance fair-goers looking to channel medieval days. The festivals may not reflect true medieval eating, but they did ignite the turkey leg’s rise to fame.
Disney Parks Made Them Famous
In the late 1980s, Disneyland and Walt Disney World began selling turkey legs from carts in Frontierland. They quickly became a beloved snack, with turkey legs soon spreading to all Disney parks. Now, Disney sells over 2 million turkey legs per year!
The turkey leg’s popularity at Disney inspired other theme parks like Universal Studios, Dollywood, and SeaWorld to add them to menus. Disney actually prepares their turkey legs differently than other vendors, injecting them with a special salt and sugar curing solution before smoking. This accounts for the signature pink color and ham-like flavor.
Male Turkeys = Bigger Legs
Disney’s jumbo legs come from male, or tom, turkeys which are much larger than females. Toms can weigh over 40 pounds, while hens average just 16 pounds. This allows Disney to source turkey legs weighing around 1.5 pounds each – nearly double the size of a typical roasted turkey leg!
Suppliers breeding the birds for Disney look for the biggest, meatiest legs possible. Through selective breeding, they’re able to consistently deliver supersized turkey legs.
The Curing Process Packs In Sodium
Smoking gives Disney’s turkey legs their delicious flavor, but it’s the curing process that makes them so large and salty. The legs are allegedly cured in a brine solution containing salt, brown sugar, and sodium nitrate. This imparts a ham-like quality, but results in sky-high sodium levels.
Each leg packs over 5,000 mg of sodium! The curing and amount of meat also leads to high fat and calorie counts. While delicious, turkey legs are clearly an indulgent snack.
Rumors Run Rampant
The turkey legs’ massive size has sparked some wild rumors over the years. A common myth claims the legs actually come from emus or ostriches. But Disney has confirmed they use 100% real turkey.
The strong cured taste also causes speculation that pork or ham is used. In reality, it’s just the result of an extensive curing and smoking process. Disney has had to repeatedly debunk myths about mystery meats in their famous snacks.
Fans Adore The Novelty
Regardless of nutrition stats or outlandish rumors, fans can’t get enough of Disney’s turkey legs. From hats to air fresheners, Disney sells a ton of turkey leg merchandise. The snacks have inspired other restaurants like Turkey Leg Paradise and Houston’s Turkey Leg Hut.
Cities host turkey leg festivals, and the gnarly food-on-a-bone has become a social media sensation. The novelty and indulgent satisfaction of turkey legs make them a quintessential theme park treat.
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a Turkey Leg for Me
In 1977, Jarrett alighted in Orlando with a biology degree from Indianaâs Ball State University and a completely unrelated job lead from his frat brothers: shucking oysters for $2.50 an hour at Capân Jackâs, an eatery located in the shopping center then known as the Walt Disney World Village. (Capân Jackâs shuttered in 2013, when the villageâwhich had already undergone a number of name changesâwas expanded and rebranded as Disney Springs.)
Though the gig spelled the end for Jarrettâs plans to become a doctor, it kickstarted a successful career within the Disney Parks machine. He worked his way up through the ranks, and by 1997 was serving as a convention manager at Magic Kingdom. But his most notable contribution to Disney World had come eight years earlier, when he floated the idea of serving up oversized turkey legs similar to those heâd seen at the fair. According to an Orlando Sentinel feature on Jarrett, âHe was nearly laughed out of a meetingâ for the suggestion. Nevertheless, the team decided to take a chanceâand it paid off in spades.
âWe had to smoke them 24 hours a day,â Jarrett told The Orlando Sentinel. âIt wasnât so funny after that.â
At first, guests could only find the glistening drumsticks at one stand in Magic Kingdomâs Frontierland, right near the Big Alâs Coonskin Caps kiosk. But over the next several years, the snack not only spread to other areas of Orlandoâs Disney World, but also other Disney locations. Sometimes, it was marketed to match a certain part of the park: When Disney World launched Animal Kingdom in 1998, for example, its turkey legs were labeled âdinosaur bones.â Turkey leg ascendancy even started creeping outside the culinary sphere: During a 1997 overhaul of Disneylandâs Pirates of the Caribbean ride, one animatronic swashbuckler who had heretofore wielded a womanâs shoe and negligee was given a turkey leg to brandish instead.
It wasnât long before other amusement parks decided to take a page out of Disneyâs cookbook. Universalâs Islands of Adventure had turkey legs on offer when it opened in 1999; the Texas waterpark Schlitterbahn had been selling them at least as far back as 1992. Six Flags and Busch Gardens eventually followed suit, too. Nowadays, chances are pretty good that youâll see someone going to town on a turkey leg at any given theme park, fair, or festival in the U.S.Â
Top 10 UNTOLD TRUTHS of Disney’s Giant Turkey Legs
FAQ
Is a turkey leg really a pig leg?
No, turkey legs are not ham. They are the legs of a turkey, whereas ham is the butt of a pig. Yes, ham is the actual butt of the pig, with some cuts including a portion of the thigh as well.
What is the average size of a turkey leg?
Skin-on and bone-in, a full leg typically weighs between one and two and a half pounds. Like most dark meat, turkey legs are less expensive than white meat turkey breast, which is more popular in the U.S. Turkey legs are delicious and hearty roasted or grilled, but can also benefit from slow-cooking and braising.
Why are turkey legs so big at theme parks?
There are two main reasons turkey legs at theme parks are substantially larger than those on a whole roast turkey 1. They come from male turkeys. The legs are from tom turkeys, or male turkeys, which are much larger than hens Toms can reach over 40 pounds, while hens average 16 pounds This allows for a turkey leg to weigh around 1.5 pounds. 2.
What are giant turkey legs?
Giant turkey legs have long been a popular food trend at Renaissance fairs and medieval festivals across the country. They fit the time period and provide a substantial, meaty snack for fairgoers. Disney decided to bring this festival trend into their parks in the late 1980s.
Are turkey legs a real thing?
Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying the untold truth of the turkey leg: it’s a culinary phenomenon with a surprisingly rich history. Disney’s giant turkey legs come from male turkeys, known as toms. Toms are much larger than female turkeys (hens).
Where do Disney turkey legs come from?
Now let’s tackle WHERE these giant leg’s come from. Disney Turkey Legs are tom turkeys, which is WHY they are so big. From everything I can find about the supplier, these big turkeys come from Uncle John’s. Now here is the MOST important part of all of this, the part that actually resolves ANY question to if the legs are in fact turkey.
Why is turkey leg so popular?
The turkey leg’s influence extends far beyond theme parks and festivals It has inspired a wave of merchandise, from t-shirts and hats to air fresheners, catering to its dedicated fan base Numerous restaurants have even emerged, specializing in serving up these colossal poultry treats.
How much does a turkey leg weigh?
That’s if they can handle the turkey leg’s massive size. Disney’s turkey legs weigh in (on average) at a mind-boggling 1 ½ pounds.