2008 Disneyland Thanksgiving Day Parade

[King_of_FastPass]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tgf6irvrIE

 

[romymichelle21]

What the heck? Is that a joke? I'm so confused I was there that day but totally missed this.

I'm wondering why the "dancers" are in regular clothes, and then there's a car with... some people?... and the only float seems to be full of small pilgrims, and then it's over. Are the turkeys up there? I can't even tell.

There was nothing on the calendar about a Thanksgiving parade, I just thought the turkeys were just going to be in the regular Christmas parade that day.

 

[Disney Dreams]

The turkey was pardoned at the White House and was the Grand Marshall in the Thanksgiving Day Parade shown in the video linked above. The turkey is now in Santa's Reindeer Round-up in Frontierland. I read that he will be moved to Big Thunder Ranch after the holidays.

If you look at the float with Pilgrim Mickey and Minnie, there is a glass box on it. I think that's where the turkey is.

- Dreams

 

[romymichelle21]

Well I was looking forward to seeing it because of the turkeys (there are 2), but we happened to miss it that day. I just thought they were going to be in the regular parade, since I'd heard nothing about a "Thanksgiving" parade.

This is definitely not a "parade"! This is random people dancing around, a car, and a single float. A little odd, if you ask me

 

[King_of_FastPass]

Sorry for the poor quality video. youtube made it even worse.

This parade was at 10am on Thanksgiving Day. The only reason I knew about it was I saw cameras being set up next to the christmas tree on main street and I asked a CM about it.

 

[jernysgirl]

I believe that the turkeys are named Pecan and Pumpkin if I recall.

After the turkey is pardoned by the president there is lots of publicity and stuff, and he has a stand in for other photo-ops (that is also pardoned.) That is why there are two turkeys.

They fly on a special plane from DC to SC first class with their farmers. The airline opens up first class for people to take pics and visit. The also play games and all give away fun prizes. (a bottle of Wild Turkey for adults, and Disney games for kids)

The turkeys then live out their remaining days at DL, in the Big Thunder Ranch after the holidays and Reindeer Round-Up.

 

[Disney Dreams]

There are 2 turkeys, but..... one is an "alternate." LOL I love that we are all so interested in 2 little turkeys. Hey, they even got a 1st class cross-country ticket!


National Thanksgiving Turkey 'Going to Disneyland!' to Celebrate Presidential Pardon
Wednesday November 26, 12:17 pm ET
Watch 'Turkey Cam' Live From Disneyland On Thanksgiving Day at www.disneyparks.com

"ANAHEIM, Calif., Nov. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Thanksgiving Turkey will really have something to celebrate following today's traditional Presidential pardon ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. "Pumpkin" and his alternate "Pecan" are going to Disneyland! It starts with a police escort to Dulles International Airport. Then the birds will "fly" First-Class on United Airlines Flight Turkey-1 to their new home at Disneyland Resort in Southern California.

The turkey's special Thanksgiving Day celebration is a preview of things to come in 2009, as Disney Parks asks guests, "What Will You Celebrate?" and invites them to mark life's special moments with a Disney visit.

The trip from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles will mark the fourth consecutive year that the National Thanksgiving Turkey has celebrated his pardon at a Disney Resort. Accompanied by National Turkey Federation Chairman Paul Hill of Ellsworth, Iowa, Pumpkin, a 20-week-old, 45-pound tom turkey, will be the grand marshal in a special Thanksgiving Day parade down Main Street U.S.A. Following the parade, Pumpkin and his alternate Pecan will find a home at Santa's Reindeer Round-Up at Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland, where they'll remain throughout the holidays and the rest of their lives.

Americans nationwide will be able to share the celebration as the turkey enjoys his new Disneyland home. See photos of the National Thanksgiving Turkey and watch video of this year's White House pardon at http://www.disneyparks.com on Nov. 26 and 27. And, for the first time, watch the turkey LIVE from Disneyland on Thanksgiving Day from 12 p.m.-4 p.m. PST (3 p.m.-7 p.m. EST). Go to http://www.disneyparks.com, listen for the turkey's gobble, and then click on the turkey face to access "Turkey Cam" LIVE from Disneyland.

"My family and I celebrate the honor of presenting the National Thanksgiving Turkey to the President of the United States," said Chairman Hill of the turkey federation. "We'll also be celebrating the special privilege of flying to Disneyland where the turkey will be the grand marshal in the Disneyland Thanksgiving Day parade."

Added Captain Vince Kramer of United Turkey-1 and Assistant Chief Pilot for United's Airbus 320 Fleet, "United is proud to fly our special, feathered guests and to help them achieve every turkey's dream of flight. It is a rare treat for turkeys to reach 30,000 feet, and we look forward to getting them to Los Angeles and landing safely and on-time."

U.S. President Harry S Truman was the first Commander-in-Chief to be presented with a Thanksgiving turkey (in 1947) by the National Turkey Federation. This year's presentation marks the 61st anniversary of a tradition that has continued through 10 successive White House administrations. The 2008 National Thanksgiving Turkey was raised under Chairman Hill's supervision on a farm in West Liberty, Iowa.

The National Turkey Federation is the advocate for all segments of the U.S. turkey industry, providing services and conducting activities which increase demand for its members' products, as well as enhance the ability to effectively and profitably provide wholesome, high-quality, nutritious turkey products."

 

[eeyore3847]

We were there and were excited to see Pumpkin and Pecan! I even got pics!!!

and then later at santa's village! The first is pumpkin and the 2nd pic is pecan!!

Enjoy the pics!
Lori

 

[Snoodles74]

We were there too, but spent most of the day at DCA and Downtown Disney, so I had no clue of this event. Bummer!!

Eeyore3847~ I love your girls' outfits, matter of fact, I even noticed them while we were in D'Land and commented to my teenage girls on how cute they were and how I wished I could still dress them up like that

 

[eeyore3847]

We were there too, but spent most of the day at DCA and Downtown Disney, so I had no clue of this event. Bummer!!

Eeyore3847~ I love your girls' outfits, matter of fact, I even noticed them while we were in D'Land and commented to my teenage girls on how cute they were and how I wished I could still dress them up like that

Oh thanks.... I love dressing them up still. Thank you again I loved the outfits and spent a good amount of time on them!
Lori

 

[disneyfaninaz]

The turkey was pardoned at the White House and was the Grand Marshall in the Thanksgiving Day Parade shown in the video linked above. The turkey is now in Santa's Reindeer Round-up in Frontierland. I read that he will be moved to Big Thunder Ranch after the holidays.

If you look at the float with Pilgrim Mickey and Minnie, there is a glass box on it. I think that's where the turkey is.

- Dreams

They won't actually be moved after the holidays, because the Big Thunder Ranch is Santa's Reindeer Roundup. Let's hope these turkeys last longer than the last pardoned ones did.