Disneyland stops hosting pardoned Turkey

[toby78]

"After five years, Disney has decided to stop housing the National Thanksgiving Turkey and an understudy after they are pardoned by the president. Following the traditional ceremony, an official turkey has served as the grand marshal in a Thanksgiving parade and then lived at Disney parks since 2005.

“It’s been a wonderful partnership. We’ve had a lot of fun doing it. We’re just not continuing with that,” said Suzi Brown, a Disneyland Resort spokeswoman.

The turkey event started as part of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary celebration, when the bird was called the Happiest Turkey on Earth. Disney continued the festivities. Disneyland hosted the official turkeys in all but one year — 2007 when the birds went to Walt Disney World in Florida. See slideshow of the 2009 Thanksgiving birds above.

This year, Disney officials decided that the turkeys don’t fit with the parks’ new promotional theme, called “Let the Memories Begin” which is based on visitors’ memories, said Brown said."

How sad, I'm gonna miss seeing the little guys!!!!

 

[DLtorgo]

This year, Disney officials decided that the turkeys don’t fit with the parks’ new promotional theme, called “Let the Memories Begin” which is based on visitors’ memories, said Brown said."

That is the stupidest reason to stop hosting the birds. Did the birds fit into the theme of GAD or a Million Dreams? More likely they stopped due to money or some logistics issue.

I will miss seeing the pardoned turkeys. What about the visitors' memories of seeing the pardoned turkeys for the past 5 years? Boo.

 

[KrazyKat4DIS]

I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I went to a vegan restaurant in Los Angeles a couple weeks ago and was asked to sign a postcard (they provided it) to Pres. Obama asking him not to send the turkeys to Disneyland. Apparently some animal rights organizations felt that Disneyland did not properly care for their turkeys and they die relatively fast.

Now, this vegan restaurant is a small chain, but perhaps DLR was starting to feel some heat from organizations such as PETA and felt it would be easier to just stop accepting the turkeys and avoid the bad press.

Who knows?

Disclaimer: I am not saying that I support PETA due to this post so don't attack me.
And I didn't send the postcard in.

 

[amamax2]

This year, Disney officials decided that the turkeys don’t fit with the parks’ new promotional theme, called “Let the Memories Begin” which is based on visitors’ memories, said Brown said."

What about memories of eating turkey legs at DL?

 

[toby78]

What about the visitors' memories of seeing the pardoned turkeys for the past 5 years? Boo.

I thought the same thing that you stated!! What about our memories of the Turkey's that were there??That is a part of my Disneyland memories if just for only a few years,,but it started off our holiday season...

 

[godalejunior]

I saw a turkey last week at DL in the round up area...

 

[Sephrina]

That's too bad. Seeing the turkey was part of ds favorite day at Disneyland.

 

[JaxsonsMom]

I saw a turkey there in October as well, maybe they don't have the room for more...

 

[bumbershoot]

That is the stupidest reason to stop hosting the birds. Did the birds fit into the theme of GAD or a Million Dreams? More likely they stopped due to money or some logistics issue.

I agree it's a really stupid reason.

Apparently some animal rights organizations felt that Disneyland did not properly care for their turkeys and they die relatively fast.

I don't doubt that!

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

What about memories of eating turkey legs at DL?

 

[farmgirljen]

FWIW the turkeys that DL hosts and the Pres pardons are not designed to "live very long". They were bred to be fast growers that mature quickly, unlike other heirloom breeds. It is possible that they just do not thrive well in the southern cal heat and they end up getting too warm, which would increase their risk of having a heart attack.Plus, If they get too large they can suffer from broken legs, etc because they grow so fast that their bone structure can not support their size.... We raised friar chickens that were similar- had same problems when we decided to let a couple of them live as pets. They died after about 4 months...

 

[KrazyKat4DIS]

FWIW the turkeys that DL hosts and the Pres pardons are not designed to "live very long". They were bred to be fast growers that mature quickly, unlike other heirloom breeds. It is possible that they just do not thrive well in the southern cal heat and they end up getting too warm, which would increase their risk of having a heart attack.Plus, If they get too large they can suffer from broken legs, etc because they grow so fast that their bone structure can not support their size.... We raised friar chickens that were similar- had same problems when we decided to let a couple of them live as pets. They died after about 4 months...

Yes, my father is actually an ornithologist so I knew they weren't meant to stick around for years. Personally, if I had a short time on this earth, I'd want to live at Disneyland! I would be upset at PETA for trying to take me away!

I was just there a couple weeks and saw one turkey (he had a cool black feather on his chest), but early 2010 I know there were 2. I think one made the journey up to Disneyland Animal Heaven to live with the Disney cow. What was her name??? This is gonna bother me!

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

Yes, my father is actually an ornithologist so I knew they weren't meant to stick around for years. Personally, if I had a short time on this earth, I'd want to live at Disneyland! I would be upset at PETA for trying to take me away!

I was just there a couple weeks and saw one turkey (he had a cool black feather on his chest), but early 2010 I know there were 2. I think one made the journey up to Disneyland Animal Heaven to live with the Disney cow. What was her name??? This is gonna bother me!

I think it was Maggie.

 

[KCmike]

I was there last weekend and the pardoned turkey was there! What's up with that?

 

[noga]

we were there and the turkey was there.

 

[tiffntwins]

I think one made the journey up to Disneyland Animal Heaven to live with the Disney cow. What was her name??? This is gonna bother me!

I think the cow was named Mickey Moo.

 

[sierranevada]

I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I went to a vegan restaurant in Los Angeles a couple weeks ago and was asked to sign a postcard (they provided it) to Pres. Obama asking him not to send the turkeys to Disneyland. Apparently some animal rights organizations felt that Disneyland did not properly care for their turkeys and they die relatively fast.

Now, this vegan restaurant is a small chain, but perhaps DLR was starting to feel some heat from organizations such as PETA and felt it would be easier to just stop accepting the turkeys and avoid the bad press.

Who knows?

Disclaimer: I am not saying that I support PETA due to this post so don't attack me.
And I didn't send the postcard in.

I think you hit the nail on the head. There is quite a movement on Facebook for that so DL may have decided it wasn't worth the hassle.

 

[Goofy_Mom]

Way not cool. The heat from PETA is hogwash!! The aniamls that live at Disney are very well loved.

 

[tinkcollector]

I agree with Goofy Mom, the animals at DL appear to very well cared for. The current Turkey is from last years pardon, this years has not yet occured. Wasn't it mentioned sometime back that DL was entertaining the idea of a new attraction in the area of the petting zoo? That would explain alot.

 

[daizieduck]

What about memories of eating turkey legs at DL?

Too funny! I don't think I was even aware Disneyland did this. Was the 2010 turkey already pardoned by Obama or are the turkey sigtings from recent weeks last year's turkey(s) maybe?