Mickey Mouse and Dole Whip aren’t the only Disney icons — the infamous Disneyland turkey leg is, too. For many Disney fans, a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth is not the same without a giant piece of meat to munch on. That said, there’s more to Disney turkey legs than meets the eye (or, in this case: mouth).
The Disneyland turkey leg didn’t actually get its start at Disneyland. In fact, it was a Walt Disney World icon before making its way out west. The iconic Disney food first appeared on the Magic Kingdom’s menu at Big Al’s Coonskin Caps in Frontierland in the late 1980s. After receiving a positive response from fans, Disney introduced it to Disneyland, and the rest is history — sort of.
From the Disney turkey leg controversy to nutrition facts to merchandise — yes, merchandise — we share everything you want to know about the theme park staple, ahead.
What is a Disneyland turkey leg made of?
Like many icons, the Disney turkey leg has seen its fair share of controversy — specifically surround what it’s made of. In 2017, actor and Thor star Zachary Levi appeared on Conan and spread some disturbing rumors about the infamous Disneyland turkey leg.
In his interview, Levi said “I have friends that have worked at Disneyland and I was talking about how the turkey legs taste more like ham than they taste like turkey, which is already befuddling. And they said, ‘Well, they’re actually emu.’” Levi went on to tell the audience, “If you’ve had a turkey leg at Disneyland, you’ve eaten an emu, folks.”
Despite his claims, the turkey legs are not disguised emu legs. “We hear that all the time. They’re real turkeys. It’s what they are,” Robert Adams, executive chef at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel.
How many turkey legs does Disney sell in one day?
For many Disney fans, turkey legs are a bucket list item — which explains why the parks sell so many of them. According to Disney Parks, Disneyland and Walt Disney World sell 1.6 million turkey drumsticks every year. That’s a whopping 2.5 million pounds of meat!
Nutrition
While Disney parks now offer a lot of healthier options, the turkey leg is not one of them. Here are the Disney turkey leg nutrition facts:
1,093 calories
54 grams of fat
15 grams of saturated fat
5,284 milligrams of sodium
Despite the shocking nutrition facts, the average guest walks about seven miles and burns around 700 calories a day at Disney. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that turkey drumsticks are one of the worst things you can eat at Disney parks.
Weight
The size isn’t the most impressive thing about Disneyland turkey legs — the weight is too! Each drumstick weighs around 1.5 pounds.
Cost
How much is a Disneyland turkey leg? In recent years, demand has caused the price to go up. Today, guests pay $12 a pop for the iconic drumstick.
Merchandise
Aside from Dole Whip, the turkey leg is the most iconic food at Disneyland and Disney World. So much so that the parks now sell merchandise for its fans. From baseball hats to graphic tees, park guests can express their love for Disneyland turkey legs every time they visit.
Similar to a wet cured ham, the turkey legs served at Disney Parks are injected with a special curing solution containing salt and sugar before it is smoked. This accounts for that pink color you may have noticed and a similar flavor profile to ham. Walt Disney would be oh so proud.
It is a beast: around 1000 calories, 50 grams of fat, 150grams of protein, and over 5000mg of sodium according to several disney sources. Is the turkey leg healthy? t is debated online if it is a "healthy option" or an "unhealthy option." I'd say it has nutrition pros and cons depending upon how you look at it.
The characteristic ham-like flavor and pinkish hue are reportedly thanks to a curing solution that Disney's legs are injected with before they get smoked. And emu meat doesn't taste like ham anyway; it's more often likened to beef. Plus, as Snopes points out, it's illegal to pass off one type of meat as another.
Sorry to break it to you Zachary, but according to Robert Adams, executive chef at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, those delicious smoky legs are not emu. They're seasoned turkey. "We hear that all the time," Adams told the Orlando Sentinel. "They're real turkeys.
So thanks to some male turkeys, the US Government and the understanding of what occurs to meat when it is smoked, we can say without a shadow of a doubt, the urban legend that Disney's Turkey Legs are in fact not turkey, is busted.
Rich in selenium, zinc, phosphorus and iron, turkey meat makes a useful inclusion to support thyroid function, immunity, bone health and energy production. The darker cuts of meat like the leg and thigh are richer in certain minerals, such as iron.
Now, before we continue, these turkey legs are not the same as if you were to throw a turkey leg on the smoker. No no, first they are cured with a curing salt (specifically sodium nitrite). This is what gives them that signature pink color that looks almost like ham.
Turkey legs have a lot of tough tendons which can be a real pain to eat around. The meat clings to the tendons, and the tendons cling to the legs, so you end up trying to eat around these thick, quill-like tendons.
But it IS for some people. After all, Disney World sells about 2 MILLION pounds of turkey from Turkey Legs in a year. No matter whether they are a must-eat or a hard-pass for you, there's no denying that the Jumbo Turkey Legs served in the parks are truly iconic in the world of Disney EATS!
The MVP of each game will be awarded a turkey leg for their efforts in spirit of the holiday, a tradition that has been in place since 1989. The legendary John Madden came up with the trend, and it's become a huge part of the festive NFL showcase ever since.
The main difference between white meat and dark meat is where on the bird the meat comes from. "The darker the meat, the more myoglobin it contains," says Willingham. "Myoglobin is the protein found in muscle tissue that carries oxygen. In turkeys and chickens, dark meat is sourced from the leg or thigh.
A: Yes.Halal meals can be accommodated at select restaurants and should be requested at least 24 hours in advance. A halal meal can be requested when making your reservation at a table service restaurant by calling (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463.
Dole out a smile with the much sought-after soft-serve delight known as DOLE Whip®—a popular frozen treat blended in pineapple, vanilla or swirled flavors. Frosty floats are also available.
Each leg is roughly 720 calories with 36 grams of fat, according to a supplier, Yoakum Packing. Ms. Bliss, the Disney spokeswoman, noted that the legs are meant to be shared, adding that the average park visitor walks about seven miles during a visit, burning 700 calories.
The jumbo turkey legs are a commonly overlooked Disney snack, but they are perfect for those looking to stay low carb on their Disney trip. Turkey legs are perfect for low carb eaters because they are just a giant helping of meat.
Turkey Legs – If you skip the BBQ sauce, a turkey leg is a great Keto option in Disneyland. They are big enough to serve two people, and they can be found at a number of vendors such as Poultry Palace in Paradise Pier, Edelweiss Snacks in Fantasyland and hot foods carts at Hollywood Land.
Introduction: My name is Neely Ledner, I am a bright, determined, beautiful, adventurous, adventurous, spotless, calm person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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