WDW turkey = emu

[snopes]

Comment: Evidently this has been an internet rumor for a while, but I
recently heard that the smoked turkey legs that are sold at Disney aren't
actually turkey, but it's emu. I wouldn't think that Emu would be
cost-efficient, but it would explain the size!

[Mickey is a gyrl]

Not true. It is actual turkey leg. Unfortunately, they grow the turkeys to be so large, that, IIRC, the rest of the body isn't very tasty.

(Snopes, I'll find a cite for you if you care to post it)

[AliBaba]

Been many years since I was at WDW and I don't remember how big their turkey legs are. I think I'm safe in saying, though, that if they were emu legs you wouldn't be able to lift them. You ever seen an emu? These are big damn birds - close to ostriches in size. They got some serious gams on them. I don't think that you'd want to try to make a meal of one. I have some pictures at home I'll look for to scan in of me next to an emu to give you a better idea of scale.

Ali "cheer up, Emu Kid" Baba

[snopes]

Originally Posted by Mickey is a gyrl

Not true. It is actual turkey leg. Unfortunately, they grow the turkeys to be so large, that, IIRC, the rest of the body isn't very tasty.

(Snopes, I'll find a cite for you if you care to post it)

Sure, just post it here.

- snopes

Originally Posted by AliBaba

I think I'm safe in saying, though, that if they were emu legs you wouldn't be able to lift them.

If those are emu legs, then they are midget emus....

Oh, never thought of this one.... maybe they are baby emu legs. Sorta like veal in bird form.

[KathyB]

A picture of two guys eating turkey legs at WDW.


One emu farm says their legs average 3.2kg (7 pounds). Most emu farms say that the drumstick is too tough for anything except ground meat. The US National Turkey Federation says for drumsticks "Typical product weight = approximately 3/4 to 1 1/2 pounds each" (.3 to .6 kg). Even if those Disney legs run two or three pounds, they still aren't as big as an emu leg.

I couldn't find what I wanted with a quick search, so I'm letting it go, but basically, outfits that make things like frozen meals, turkey soup, and the like want very large turkeys for processing, usually with lots of white meat, as that is what the customer wants. Legs, etc. go into commercial broths and soup bases. Wings, tails, and other bits that aren't worth processing on a commercial scale may be sold to specialty markets. A market near me sells massive frozen turkey wings--if you roasted them, one would probably serve two people. The wings are rather tough, but extremely flavorful and I use them to make stock.

[Mickey is a gyrl]

So far, the information I've found doesn't say a lot. A friend of mine that worked in quick service food and beverage says they most certainly are turkey. And one must also consider that purposely mislabeling a product is against the law. I'll keep searching, though.

ETA: When googling, all I've found is anecdotal, from many, MANY message boards.

[mouse goddess]

Originally Posted by AliBaba

Been many years since I was at WDW and I don't remember how big their turkey legs are. I think I'm safe in saying, though, that if they were emu legs you wouldn't be able to lift them. You ever seen an emu? These are big damn birds - close to ostriches in size. They got some serious gams on them. I don't think that you'd want to try to make a meal of one. I have some pictures at home I'll look for to scan in of me next to an emu to give you a better idea of scale.

Ali "cheer up, Emu Kid" Baba

Not to be too persnickety...but emus and ostriches are quite a bit different in size-I've worked with both.

Emus from ground to the top of their head are about as tall as the average person, a little shorter actually-say 5 foot-ish

Ostriches are about as tall from the ground to their BACK as the average person, then add a couple of feet for neck- I'd guess about 7-8 feet total.

But your main point stands, the drumsticks on both would be huge.

[lynnejanet]

My cousin tried to start a business selling smoked turkey legs. There are lots available fairly inexpensively, for the reasons that KathyB cites. The legs that he was smoking were comparable in size to the ones in the WDW pic.

His business never got off of the ground because he was planning for mobile carts and trailers for festivals, but the convoluted Canadian health regulations were too much.

[bjohn13]

Originally Posted by KathyB

A picture of two guys eating turkey legs at WDW.

Compared to the turkey legs I've eaten, those appear to be about average size.

Unless, of course, those kids are toddlers.

[bjohn13]

Originally Posted by mouse goddess

Not to be too persnickety...but emus and ostriches are quite a bit different in size-I've worked with both.

Emus from ground to the top of their head are about as tall as the average person, a little shorter actually-say 5 foot-ish

Ostriches are about as tall from the ground to their BACK as the average person, then add a couple of feet for neck- I'd guess about 7-8 feet total.

But your main point stands, the drumsticks on both would be huge.

I think "drumlog" might be a more accurate term.

[B Hamilton]

The first time I heard this, it was an inside joke on usenet (rec.arts.disney.parks) similar to the Austria/Australia joke on alt.folkore.urban. This was at least 10 years ago when I first read it on RADP. It started as a joke and then was spread by newbies on RADP who then posted it as fact on some of the Disney discussion boards. There was even a travel channel "behind the scenes at WDW" show that mentioned the "emu" story and then debunked it.

[snapdragonfly]

Originally Posted by lynnejanet

The legs that he was smoking were comparable in size to the ones in the WDW pic.

*trying to think of a good dope joke here* Oh heck, can't come up with anything. Musta been the beef jerky I lit up earlier.

Yeah, I know.

i swear to god, i have an emu, its thighs are way, way bigger, and i have eaten it, it is greasy and chewy, the opposite of turkey, which is watery and soft

emu meat is dark purple is and has a waaaaaaaaaaaaaay different taste

[snopes]

Comment: Is it true that the Turkey legs sold at the Disney Parks are in
fact Emu legs? My Sister works at one of the parks and says that this is
one of the big Disney Rumors among emplyees. She also says that when they
ask about this it is brushed off as rumor but no one ever says no.

[snopes]

Comment: I heard on the radio this morning, that the roasted turkey legs
that you get at the fairs and Disneyland, are really emu legs. Is that
true?

[Salamander]

Here's the reality check: Does the meat even taste vaguely like turkey? If so, it isn't emu. I've eaten emu and there is simply no comparison in the flavour of the meat.

Emu meat is not, as jts stated, "greasy and chewy" unless it was cooked badly I suppose. The flavour is quite strong and rich though -- I'd hazard a guess that if you chowed down on an entire emu drumstick you'd probably be feeling pretty queasy afterwards.

It is a very dark meat though which would be another giveaway.

[Eddylizard]

Another reality check.

The "turkey legs" in KathyB's photo are completely consistant with the size of the legs of an actual turkey. Turkeys are big buggers.

Disney is primarily in the business of generating profit. The last finacial resuts I heard for them, they seem to be failing.

I don't know about where WDW operates, but here, turkey is about the cheapest meat one can buy. Emu meat is available from specialist suppliers, but at a hefty price. I confess I've never eaten it just because of that. £20 a lb - you're having a laugh.

So why would anyone in a business for profit sell emu meat at turkey meat prices?

[Dropbear]

Originally Posted by Salamander

I've eaten emu and there is simply no comparison in the flavour of the meat.

It is a very dark meat though which would be another giveaway.

Maybe they bleach and flavour it. Have you thought about that Mr Rationality? huh?

Dropbear

[Sebbenth]

Originally Posted by Salamander

Here's the reality check: Does the meat even taste vaguely like turkey? If so, it isn't emu. I've eaten emu and there is simply no comparison in the flavour of the meat.

Emu meat is not, as jts stated, "greasy and chewy" unless it was cooked badly I suppose. The flavour is quite strong and rich though -- I'd hazard a guess that if you chowed down on an entire emu drumstick you'd probably be feeling pretty queasy afterwards.

It is a very dark meat though which would be another giveaway.

Emu is lean, isn't it? And I think it's really easy to overcook.

I used to buy it once or twice, but didn't quite like it because of that.