RIP, Pork Shank…

We’ve been hearing rumors about this for a while, and it has finally to pass — the Pork Shank is no more.

Gaston’s Tavern opened in late 2012 as part of the New Fantasyland expansion in Magic Kingdom, featuring a variety of snacks and beverages. Headliner items on the menu — which, until now, has remained basically unchanged since the opening — include LeFou’s Brew (the Tavern’s own signature beverage) and Warm Cinnamon Rolls (noteworthy since they are no longer served at Main Street Bakery).

The one non-snack item on the list, though, might be the one that gained the biggest reputation from the get-go: the Pork Shank. This huge serving of meat-on-bone drew immediate comparisons to the iconic Jumbo Turkey Leg. Unlike the Turkey Legs, though, which have a home in every park, Gaston’s Tavern was the only place where you could consistently find a Pork Shank (aside from being served for a stint at Min & Bill’s Dockside Diner in Hollywood Studios), and ultimately it drew a dedicated fan base of its very own.

The Pork Shank has recently been removed from the menu at Gaston’s Tavern. Below is a screenshot of the current menu from the Walt Disney World website.

Say what you will about the Pork Shank (it brought on some of the same love-it-or-NO-WAY reaction as the Turkey Leg), I always thought it was wonderfully themed to its location at Gaston’s. Who couldn’t picture Gaston himself holding court in the enormous chair in the Tavern’s corner, chowing down on a Pork Shank while listing all the attributes that make him so great?

But wait! There’s more… Thanks to one of our DFB Readers, we know that the Pork Shank was also removed from the menu at Edelweiss Snacks in Disneyland.

That’s what we know so far in the Case of the Disappearing Pork Shank. And, of course, if any other almost-a-meal menu items come up in an attempt to replace it, we’ll keep you posted here on the DFB.

Are you among those who will miss the Pork Shank? Please let us know with a comment!