Turkey Leg Disney World – Finding Them, Facts, Review

If you’ve noticed other guests walking around, you’ve likely seen the ones biting off a massive piece of meat. At Walt Disney World, these jumbo Disney Turkey Legs can stir up an argument among Disney theme park aficionados: some absolutely adore them, while others despise them.

Regardless of what everyone thinks, there’s no doubt that the famed turkey leg is a Walt Disney World staple food item and true park icon. Actually, this park icon is SO big that it can easily feed two people – it’s practically a meal! Let’s go over everything about the Disney Turkey Leg, what makes it so famous, and every place you can find it!

We visit Walt Disney World weekly and enjoy some of the best snacks at Walt Disney World frequently including Mickey pretzels, Dole Whips, and of course, Disney World turkey legs!

History of the Turkey Leg at Walt Disney World

If Disneyland in California originated the famed Disney churro, Walt Disney World originated the infamous Disney turkey leg. Believe it or not, the turkey leg made its debut in Magic Kingdom in 1989 thanks to a man by the name of Dave Jarrett. Originally an employee at Cap’n Jack’s in the Walt Disney World Village (widely known as Disney Springs today), Jarrett eventually worked his way through the ranks of Walt Disney World. He eventually became a convention manager at Magic Kingdom.

Before its popularity in the Disney parks, the turkey leg was a staple food of Renaissance fairs in the 1960s and 1970s. However, after coming across a turkey leg at a Renaissance fair in 1989, Jarrett decided to pitch the idea of bringing this famous “ren fair” snack to Walt Disney World. After originally pitching his idea of selling oversized turkey legs, Jarrett said he was “nearly laughed out of a meeting.” Yet, the team decided to gamble on the idea – and the gamble paid off.

The infamous salty snack was originally only sold in Frontierland, but quickly spread to other Walt Disney World locations – and eventually other Disney theme parks outside of Orlando. Let’s go over where you can find the turkey leg at Walt Disney World.

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Liberty Square Market in Magic Kingdom

Situated in Liberty Square to the left of the Hall of Presidents, Liberty Square Market sells a variety of Disney snacks, including the Mickey Pretzel, hot dogs, frozen slush drinks, and – of course – the turkey leg. For the more health-conscious, guests can also find whole fruit, a 3-pack of Cuties mandarins, apple slices, cheese snacks, and a pickle! Turkey legs are available for purchase after 11:00am everyday.

Prince Eric’s Village Market in Magic Kingdom

Located at the base of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Fantasyland, Prince Eric’s Village Market starts serving turkey legs after 11:00am. Here, guests can also find a jumbo pretzel (with or without cheese), a pickle, grapes, and frozen slush drinks.

Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom

Believe it or not, you can find a turkey leg to the left of Hall of Presidents (at Liberty Square Market) or to the right of Hall of Presidents – at Sleepy Hollow. Oddly enough, guests can find turkey legs here after 9:00pm. However, I’ve found that it can be hit-or-miss here depending on the day. Be sure to double check with Cast Members to ensure that the turkey legs are available!

Sleepy Hollow also sells hand-dipped corn dogs, a sweet-and-spicy chicken-waffle sandwich, chips, a fresh fruit waffle sandwich, and a funnel cake with strawberries and powdered sugar. Don’t sleep on that fresh fruit waffle sandwich, by the way. Made with strawberries, banana, blueberries, and chocolate-hazelnut spread, this snack is a wonderful burst of sweet flavor. It also makes for a great late morning snack!

Fife and Drum Tavern in EPCOT

With its history in the Renaissance Fair, it comes as no surprise that the turkey leg can be found inside the American Adventure Pavilion! Located in front of Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts and Barbecue, guests can start purchasing the turkey leg after 10:00am. Fife and Drum Tavern also sells popcorn (and collectible popcorn buckets), the Mickey Pretzel, hot dogs, soft-serve ice cream, and frozen slush drinks.

The Smokehouse at House of Blues in Disney Springs

Over on the West Side in Disney Springs, across from City Works Eatery and Pour House sits an inconspicuous restaurant named The Smokehouse. Connected to the popular music venue, The Smokehouse is actually the counter-service sister restaurant to the table-service House of Blues Restaurant. Here, their Smoked Turkey leg is seasoned with House of Blues special spices, making for a more smokey taste. Guests can purchase the turkey leg here starting at 11:00am.

Unlike the rest of the counter-service restaurants mentioned, The Smokehouse also sells a number of entrees, including a classic corn dog, smokehouse nachos, and a giant pretzel. Guests have a lot more variety with their food options here!

Our Thoughts on the Disney Turkey Leg

With its salty flavor, seemingly endless amounts of meat to chew on, and even more oil to run down your hand, the Disney turkey leg still remains one of the most popular snack foods at Walt Disney World.

And to clear any air of doubt that these chunks of meat actually do come from real turkeys, it’s confirmed that they come from tom tom turkeys, which are much bigger than the hen turkeys we typically see on the dinner table during Thanksgiving. The rumor that Disney turkey legs were actually made from emus can’t really stick though. Not only is the typical emu leg 8 times the size of a typical turkey leg. It’s actually illegal to pass off one type of meat as another type!

What about that ham taste? And the pink-ish meat? Both of those characteristics come from the curing solution that Cast Members inject into their turkey legs before smoking them.

In the end, the turkey leg is still a divisive snack: guests either love it or avoid it altogether. However, for anyone looking for a salty, meaty, filling snack (or… meal), this is the ticket. Despite its flack, Walt Disney World still sells about 2 million pounds worth of turkey legs every year! With its divisiveness and almost mythic nature, Disney’s infamous turkey leg is truly an icon.

Not a fan of the Turkey leg? Or are you looking for something less salty? There are a ton of other Disney staple snacks for you to munch on. Let’s go over them!

Mickey Pretzel

Many Walt Disney World guests adore the warmth and saltiness of this snack. And besides, it’s Mickey shaped! This staple snack is certainly big enough to share but small enough for the extra-hungry guest.
Find the Mickey Pretzel all throughout Walt Disney World at the theme park snack carts. When purchasing, you also get the option of the cheese dipping sauce, which pairs pretty well with the pretzel!

Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar

As its name suggests, this chocolate-coated vanilla ice cream bar has the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head, making it a sweet and fun snack to cool off with. It’s certainly one of the most popular desserts in the Disney parks. Much like the Mickey Pretzel, you can find the Mickey Ice Cream Bar all throughout Walt Disney World at the theme park snack carts.

Mickey Premium Ice Cream Sandwich

If you’re in the mood for an ice cream treat but want a little more variety, the Mickey Premium Ice Cream Sandwich might be for you! Here, you’ll cool off with a chocolate-cookies-and-cream snack with the ever-popular Mickey Mouse flare! Find the Mickey Premium Ice Cream Sandwich at almost any snack cart that also sells the Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar.

DOLE Whip

Let’s keep the frozen snacks rolling with possibly the most-popular dessert at Walt Disney World: the DOLE Whip. So many guests enjoy this classic pineapple-flavored soft-serve for its tangy, tart, and sweet taste wrapped up in a smooth consistency. Honestly, what’s not to love about it? At Aloha Isle, the original location to purchase DOLE Whip, you can even find different variations: vanilla, coconut, or raspberry flavors, and several float options! Now, you can find DOLE Whip all throughout Walt Disney World, most notably at Pineapple Lanai at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Mickey Beignets

Before we completely depart from the topic of Mickey Mouse-shaped foods, how could we not forget the Mickey Beignet? This fluffy New Orleans-style donut is a staple comfort food at Walt Disney World. But believe or not, it’s also a rare find. There’s really only one spot to find this delicious snack: Scat Cat’s Club Café at Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter Resort. Topped with endless amounts of powdered sugar, anyone with a sweet tooth is sure to enjoy this warm, fluffy dessert! While they’re amazing by themselves, you can also get them as a sundae, or as an alcoholic option!

Popcorn

Popcorn is such an integral snack in Magic Kingdom, and not just because of its buttery, crunchy goodness. Walt Disney designed Magic Kingdom after the cinema experience. Just like walking into the cinema and smelling fresh popcorn before sitting down to watch your favorite movie, Walt wanted guests to feel as if they were literally inside a movie of their own – complete with the sights, sounds, and the smells.

Of course, that doesn’t detract from the fact that Disney popcorn is a wonderful theme park snack. And who could forget the myriad of collectible popcorn buckets? Find popcorn (and all the iterations of popcorn buckets) throughout all the Disney theme parks. Want to sweeten it up with different flavors? Not only can you find prepackaged sweet popcorn throughout Walt Disney World. Karamell-Küche in Germany Pavilion at EPCOT sells Werther’s Original Caramel Popcorn – fresh, warm, and absolutely delicious. Just a few countries over, Popcorn in Canada in the (you guessed it) Canada Pavilion sells freshly made maple popcorn. You simply can’t go wrong!

Cupcake

Walt Disney World seems to always have a cupcake for every single season or celebration. They’re also everywhere on Disney property. However, not all cupcakes are created equally. Some taste absolutely amazing while others are less-than-ideal. My favorite? The Master’s Cupcake over at Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom. Also known as the “Grey Stuff Cupcake” made famous by Lumiere in “Beauty and the Beast,” this chocolate cupcake is topped with the famous Grey Stuff (cookies and cream mousse) and garnished with crispy pearls.

For consistently delicious cupcake options, head over to Sprinkles in Disney Springs. This West Coast cupcake chain offers gourmet cupcakes that are really high quality.

Caramel Apple

Walk through Main Street Confectionery in Magic Kingdom and you’ll notice these fun, round, Mickey-shaped sweet treats behind the counter. Beautifully decorated into different flavors – and special flavors for different holidays and celebrations. Guests can also find caramel apples at Big Top Treats in Magic Kingdom, Candy Cauldron or Goofy’s Candy Company in Disney Springs, Beverly Sunset in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Karamell-Küche in EPCOT.

Cookies

Let’s talk about two iconic cookies in Walt Disney World. Over at the Neighborhood Bakery in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Jack-Jack Num Num Cookie is an absolute fan-favorite for Walt Disney World guests. Beloved for its rich chocolatey taste and massive deep-dish size, they could quite possibly be a life-changing experience to first-time eaters.

Even more popular in Walt Disney World are any of the cookies from Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs. Gideon’s is arguably the dessert spot in the Walt Disney World Resort. When visiting, do not be surprised if you have to enter a virtual queue to purchase one of these massively epic cookies. Gideon’s Bakehouse also offers a variety of cookie flavors, including rotating ones based on the season! My personal favorite? Pistachio Toffee Chocolate Chip: soft on the inside, chewy on the outside, and an added crunch with the lightly salted pistachios – it’s a crowd-pleaser for sure.

Cheshire Cat Tail

Quite frankly, when I first heard about the Cheshire Cat Tail at Cheshire Café in Magic Kingdom, I was really excited to try it but nervous that it wouldn’t live up to the hype it received. From experience, however, I can confidently say that it lives up to the hype – so much so that it’s a must-have almost every time I visit the Magic Kingdom. With its flakey braided design, filled with chocolate, and drizzled with pink and purple icing on top, it’s a wonderful chocolately snack that doesn’t overwhelm the taste buds or the stomach!

Spring Rolls

Not too far from the Cheshire Café and right before passing under the Adventureland entrance is the Spring Roll Cart with its delicious spring roll varieties. Guests usually have a choice between two types of spring rolls, which currently are cheeseburger or pepperoni and cheese. Don’t be mistaken, both flavors are a great savory choice. If you love the taste of cheeseburgers or pizza rolls, imagine wrapping them up in that crunchy goodness of an egg roll. The best part? While orders of spring rolls come in twos, you’re able to order one of each flavor!

Totchos

At first glance, the word “totchos” might make you tilt your head in confusion, but this mix of tater tots and nachos combines two popular comfort food snacks. These totchos, found at Woody’s Lunch Box over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios are a fun mix of crispy, soft, gooey tater tots with beef and bean chili, shredded cheese, queso, tomatoes, corn chips, sour cream, and onions on top. This snack is hard to resist!

Corn Dog Nuggets

Staying in the fried-food realm, the corn dog nuggets from Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom are practically the sister-snack to the famed Disneyland corn dog. Salty hot dog sausages wrapped in crispy yet soft cornbread? Sign me up. Dunk these tasty bites in cheese sauce or plain mustard – you can’t go wrong either way.

Warm Cinnamon Roll

Magic Kingdom seems to have all the staple Disney snacks, doesn’t it? Literally as large as a barge (like Gaston), guests can find this massive cinnamon roll at Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom. At the price of a cupcake, you get more than your fair share of dense, gooey, buttery goodness. The best part of this sweet, cinnamon-y snack? Its soft-but-chewy consistency.

School Bread

Okay, this final snack actually isn’t at Magic Kingdom, but it’s so good (and so popular) that it had to make the list. The school bread from Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in Norway Pavilion is an absolute must-have snack when visiting EPCOT. In fact, the only reason I wouldn’t get it is if I have 10 other food items I need to try first – which happens more often than not. This sweet bread roll compliments the light and fluffy custard filling so well. And the toasted coconut shreds are really the cherry on top!

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