Does anyone avoid Buffets?

[my2boyz]

Anyone avoid these due to the fact that others can be so gross and careless with cleanliness etc while touching spoons/food? We ate at one for dinner and our DD2 got sick(vomiting) that night she had been fine all day leading up to dinner and was fine even after since this was our night of MVMCP. We got home around 11:00 so she slept for a bit, but was restless. Just about 2 in the morning the poor thing was sick all over the bed. We then cancelled our other buffet meal and got another res somewhere else. All she ate was the mac and cheese and a few peas.
We have now sworn off of buffet esp when you really think about it and watch everyone there.
I must add we were very good with hand washing and sanitizing and no one else was sick in our party.

 

[smiths02]

Honestly, people are germy all over the park. There is no way to know that it was from a buffet.

I will probably not go back to Chef Mickey because I saw that no one controlled kids going to the buffet (neither the CMs or their parents)

But I am not scared away from buffets overall

I do have to say...over our 3 trips, we have been to Boma x2, Crystal Palace x 3, Chef Mickey's, Cape May, 1900 Park Fare, Tusker House x2...and no one in our party (including once with a 2 year old) got sick.

 

[Soben]

Yes, we totally avoid buffets especially on vacation. We're not germaphobes, at home we've been known to use the 3 second rule. Buffets aren't worth it to us because we don't really want to eat a ton, most of the food has that "sitting out" taste versus freshly cooked food brought to you. So giving them up isn't a sacrifice to me.

Even if people and kids don't do anything crazy like stick their hands in the trays, they are still touching the tongs and spoons. When you touch them and go back to your table, odds are you aren't rewashing your hands each time.

When they plate you up in a restaurant, odds are they wash their hands and use plastic gloves. I know people say it's bad back there. But at least they're trying and have policies in place. I think the odds are better.

Just our take.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I avoid Disney buffets because the cost doesn't translate to quality. Over the last 10 years the Disney buffets has diminished in quality and offerings to the point that it's the same tasteless glop offered every where. The only exception I've found is Boma, we really still enjoy the different foods that are well prepared, served hot and fresh.

Other than for a character ( Tusker House) dining experience for the little ones, I skip most buffets!

As far as germs, at least at Boma and Tusker House I haven't seen too much unsanitary activity that might result in an apocalyptic plague!

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I avoid them just because I like to sit down and be served fresh food. If I wanted to stand in line for slop warmed under a heat lamp, I'd eat at counter service spots and spend considerably less time and money.

We had breakfast at Fresh Mediterranean Market on our last visit and it was the most disappointing meal of our trip, not to mention a time suck. It was our first buffet in all our trips and will likely be our last for quite some time.

 

[ItsNotMuchofaTail]

I kind of figure once I have touched all the door handles, furniture, bus seats, railings, money, turnstiles, etc. etc. I am getting all the germ exposure anyway. There is no way of knowing where a bug came from. Stomach bugs incubate anywhere from 4 hours to 2 days.

My DD likes buffets where she can pick and choose and change her mind. I don't worry that they are going to make me sick any more than I worry that the 2 year old in front of me in line for a ride is going to make me sick. Or the grandmother behind me. Or the teenager who bumped into me. Or anyone/anything else.

I might prefer plated food in general, but in WDW we do a mix of traditional sit down and buffet for our TS.

 

[Melodious]

We don't avoid buffets. Last trip, we were eating breakfast at the CS place in our resort and I watched kid put his grubby hands over each and every coffee stirrer and then put them back. Everywhere is germy

 

[Herfnerd]

I kind of figure once I have touched all the door handles, furniture, bus seats, railings, money, turnstiles, etc. etc. I am getting all the germ exposure anyway. There is no way of knowing where a bug came from. Stomach bugs incubate anywhere from 4 hours to 2 days.

My DD likes buffets where she can pick and choose and change her mind. I don't worry that they are going to make me sick any more than I worry that the 2 year old in front of me in line for a ride is going to make me sick. Or the grandmother behind me. Or the teenager who bumped into me. Or anyone/anything else.

I might prefer plated food in general, but in WDW we do a mix of traditional sit down and buffet for our TS.

Ditto - unfortunately there is absolutely no way to be certain that it was the buffet that caused the illness

 

[mbtohill]

We have been to Beirgarten and Tusker House multiple times and have never had anyone get sick (knocking on wood). I would agree with many of the other posters, germs are everywhere, TS, CS and buffet.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We usually avoid buffets and AYCE places.
2) But, not for "germ" reasons.
3) We find the buffets are filled with too many noisy/unruly guests.
. . . folks let kids run around
. . . folks talk much too loud
. . . folks let kids yell and scream
4) We find that *most* ala-carte eateries have more respectful people.

NOTE: I do not expect vacation destinations to have solemnly quiet
eateries, but a roar or din is too much for us.

 

[cluvsdisney]

We avoid buffets because I think they are way over priced for the quality & variety of food offered. Plus, I don't want to walk around and get my food that's been sitting on a hot plate for who knows how long. And I don't like the chaos of having all the guests walking around with their plates.

I am sorry your DD was sick, but there's no way to really know for sure that it was because you ate at a buffet.

 

[SRiley1985]

We avoid buffets because I am on vacation and I prefer someone to bring my food to me. I make my own plate at home, no way am I lifting a finger on vacation if I don't have to

 

[North of Mouse]

If I wanted to stand in line for slop warmed under a heat lamp, I'd eat at counter service spots and spend considerably less time and money.

Wow, feel very strongly about eating at a buffet?? For your information it is not *slop* warmed under a heat lamp.

OP, to answer your question - no, we do not avoid them because we have a few like Cape May and Boma that we love. One thing we do is always make a ressie for when they first open (that works great for us as we are early dinner diners).

Also, doubt that your child was sickened by the mac & cheese, and peas, as there would have been *many* children so affected that it would have been known. Really, one of the worst (not only) germy things are the hand rails in the queues. There's so many germs floating around in large crowds like Disney, that it's amazing more people are not sickened. That's why I hate to see people bring infants and small babies there Yikes, don't slam me - just said that was *my* opinion.

 

[goofyintoronto]

We do not avoid buffets. I love buffets for breakfast. Crystal Palace, Cape May, and Tusker are my faves.

For lunch or dinner I prefer TS restaurants for sure. I realised that for dinner I have enjoyed my meals far more at TS rather than buffets and AYCE. The quality is so much better when ordering from a menu. Thats just what ive observed for lunch/dinner. Only two lunch/dinner buffets I thought was decent, Biergarten & CP. Nothing wow'd me. But it was good.

OP, as others have already mentioned, germs are everywhere. Not just buffets. You really cant prove that the buffet is to blame for the illness. Sorry your DD got sick thou.

 

[elaine amj]

Germs are everywhere. I refuse to let it control my life.

On the funny side, a close friend is a germaphobe with a germaphobic family. She took another family's DD14 with her on a trip and thoroughly impressed her with using clorox wipes all over the hotel room, etc etc. Now the 14 yr old (from a non-germaphobic family with 3 second rules, etc) is EXTREMELY germaphobic to the point where she hates the idea of buffets. She's driving her family bananas! And yet, the germaphobic family loves buffets and just ignores the germs.

You gotta live life sometimes. I always joke how on one vacation I ate at the dirtiest street stall with no problems but got the worst food poisoning of my life eating room service at a 5 star hotel.

 

[Three cats]

Yes indeed, we avoid them at all costs.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[cajunprincess]

I don't entirely avoid buffets, but I limit them at Disney to one breakfast buffet per trip.

I do not do buffets when at home at all, so I think I do well do try one at WDW. Typically, to me, there is a lot of sanitation issues from not only kids but adults that I have a problem with. This is anywhere, not just Disney. So instead of getting all upset & grossed out about it, I avoid them. If I were going to WDW during flu season, I may would avoid even doing buffets all together. I know there are germs everywhere at Disney, but it just seems more risky when you are putting food into your mouth that someone else could have "messed" with if you will.

On another note, the germ aspect isn't the only reason I'm not a buffet fan, the food doesn't seem as good to me as ordering something off a menu. And I eat more than I would normally and don't enjoy it as much. So these two things probably help factor into not doing buffets.

 

[DisneyLvr55]

We don't do buffets at home, but when in Disney, for us, they are a must. Lots of the character meals are buffet, and with kids, ya gotta do character meals!
I have the hand sanatizer on my belt loop, so we always use it right before we eat, and if you want to go really crazy, just use a sani wipe when holding the buffet spoons. Not only are you saving yourself, but your helping the next person as well.

 

[Scottiesmommy08]

I despise buffets! My husband loves Golden Corral so we eat there maybe every two months. I just find it gross. And If I go to a restaurant I feel like half the price I am paying is to get served my food. If I'm going out, I don't want to make several trips to refill myself and kids like I would at home. I don't think that's going "out." But, like I said.. I will eat there and we do have ADRs for two buffets on our next trip. I guess because of our budget we don't eat out frequently and I feel like it should be more of a different experience. Or I could just be weird.

 

[Lucille1963]

We avoid them for the most part. Biergarten is the exception figuring that a couple litres of beer will kill the bacteria

I've experienced too many food items in the temperature "Danger Zone", which is between 40-140 degrees.

I'm far from a germaphobe, but buffets have huge red flags for me.