Minnie Moo

Minnie Moo was a white and black Holstein cow that appeared as an attraction and mascot at the defunct Grandma Duck's Petting Farm in Mickey's Starland, and later at the petting zoo in Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. She was notable for her unique pattern that resembled Mickey Mouse.

History
Minnie Moo was born on a dairy farm in Edgarton, Minnesota in 1984. She proved to be a poor producer of milk, and was initially planned to be slaughtered. However, the family's niece wrote to Disneyland and Walt Disney World in 1988 with photos of Minnie, suggesting that perhaps the The Walt Disney Company could use her.

In 1990, the Walt Disney Company purchased Minnie for an undisclosed amount, proceeding to move her to Lake Buena Vista, Florida, to be included in Grandma Duck's Petting Farm in the Mickey's Starland area of Walt Disney World, where she became a popular attraction for Disney fans.

In 1996, when Grandma Duck's Petting Farm was set to be demolished to make way for the new attraction The Barnstormer, Minnie was relocated to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground's Tri-Circle D Ranch, where she remained a popular tourist attraction and character.

In 2001, at the age of 15 (slightly longer than the average Holstein cow lifespan), Minnie Moo passed away from natural causes. The Walt Disney Company made no official notice of her passing, with Disney spokesman John McClintock saying that "it was too sensitive a subject". Animal operations director for Animal Programs Tom Hopkins said, "Minnie Moo brought much joy to both our guests and our Cast Members. We will miss her greatly." The petting zoo was later closed in 2005, with the animals moved to Disney's Animal Kingdom.

A memorial plaque was placed inside the trophy room at Fort Wilderness, along with other notable deceased animals.

Trivia

 * The popularity of Minnie Moo sparked a short-lived frenzy where the Disney Company was inundated with offers of various animals that had a Mickey Mouse type marking on them, from pigs and dogs to even inanimate objects like potatoes.
 * An urban legend states that there were several cows bred to bear the Mickey Mouse pattern and dubbed "Minnie Moo", but this is untrue, as the only other cattle that the Disney Company purchased with a Mickey mouse pattern was a bull named Mickey Moo.
 * Minnie may have made a cameo appearance in the Dell comic books “Grandma Duck’s Farm Friends".