Anyone besides me dislike buffets?

[dburg30]

Nope, dont hate them, will eat that them if I want to. Am pretty sure by the time I've gotten to the food I've touched a lot of other surfaces those same people (and probably more) have touched. Cant remember the last time I had anything other then a stuffy nose. I work around the general public 6 days a week, interacting with them all day. I dont over wash my hands, I dont go overboard on hand sanitizers as I feel they dont know the difference between 'good' and 'bad' things like bacterias. I figure i have as good a chance fighting the bad stuff with my good stuff. Now people with a lower immune system, perhaps transplant people or those just with weak immune systems, well they are probably suggested to try to stay away from many public places.

And while I've obviously had many meals at sit down places that were better, sometimes I just want a choice of different things.

I've never really run into the 'cold on top, warm on bottom' issue one of the PP's was talking about. Perhaps since I stay with the most popular items they are high enough turnover that I dont ever get the cold stuff.

 

[La2kw]

I've seen too many people leave the restrooms at WDW without washing their hands- most of them being adults who should know better! That alone is disgusting, but then to think of them handling my serving spoon. I've also seen too many people eating from the buffet line, sneezing in the buffet line, coughing in the buffet line- again including adults who should know better. Then you have the children whose parents think it's okay for the kids to visit the buffet line unsupervised who do all sorts of funky stuff up there. Not to mention the number of unruly children who seem to frequent them.

I also don't like constantly getting up to get food. I feel like I don't see my family during the meal because one of us is constantly up at the buffet line.

 

[NOLA_Tink]

Then you have the children whose parents think it's okay for the kids to visit the buffet line unsupervised who do all sorts of funky stuff up there.

Oh, yeah! During dinner at Boma, I saw a kid put a bunch of meatballs on his plate &, with his bare hands, take half of them off of his plate and put them back. I quickly warned my friends that were standing next to me. The lady behind them heard an gave me a friendly, "Good save!"

 

[Mrs.Reese]

I think Buffets are a waste of money for me. I can eat a kid's meal and be full. I've also seen too many people lick buffet spoons, pick their nose, lick their hands etc. to possibly enjoy them.

 

[Cat0727]

I think Buffets are a waste of money for me. I can eat a kid's meal and be full. I've also seen too many people lick buffet spoons, pick their nose, lick their hands etc. to possibly enjoy them.

Same here! I eat like a bird, and after last trip I swore off buffets because spending $28.95 is just not worth it!

 

[chrisw127]

Not a fan. With three little kids, I spend all my time running back and forth. It's too much like home (although, I don't have zebra domes at home).

 

[fla4fun]

Same here! I eat like a bird, and after last trip I swore off buffets because spending $28.95 is just not worth it!

Although the hygiene issues also play into it, the price is a big turn off for me too. Most of the time, I stick with CS, and sometimes kids meals at CS, because I hate feeling stuffed and trying to go on rides (or even just walking around the park, especially if it's hot outside). I have a 10 day stay coming up, and only one ADR (a Le Cellier lunch) booked. The rest will be CS or meals in my FW cabin.

 

[Pig Pen]

I like buffets for big parties. There's a little something for everyone and picky eaters can usually find something to their liking. Also, if you have little ones, there's no wait for food. You can just get and go! We are taking our 2 yo GS in July and we have several buffets planned...he also eats free at buffets (and he's NOT a picky eater so this is good).

Otherwise, if it's just DH and me, the only buffets we like are Boma, Tusker House, and Biergarten. They offer foods we cannot get at home.

 

[Pig Pen]

Outside of Disney, I never ever go to buffets. Last trip at Disney-we mainly did buffets, mainly becuase I wanted alot of character meals and many are buffets. That said, this upcoming trip, I think I am going to only do a few buffets and more sit down-al a carte style meals Sometimes, especially with me having 5 kids, I feel like I never get to sit when I am at a buffet, I am always escorting one of my kids up there. And when I did let my 12 year old go up himself once, he came back with a bowl full of M&M's

I can see where this situation could be a real pain! I never thought about going to a buffet with several little ones...not too relaxing for mom and dad.

 

[Art 1]

I think Buffets are a waste of money for me. I can eat a kid's meal and be full. I've also seen too many people lick buffet spoons, pick their nose, lick their hands etc. to possibly enjoy them.

And that's just what you see.

 

[rubato]

I think the difference is that at a buffet you can see how unclean the food handling is. In a sit down restaurant, it is just as bad, but you don't see it. Trust me, as a teen, I worked in restaurants, and the kitchen is pretty nasty. Employees dropping food on the ground and then putting it on the plate. Employees picking their nose and then touching food. And, that was at all 3 restaurants, not just 1!

 

[PinkPrincess4Ever]

I just don't like the whole concept. I'd rather have a meal prepared for me than go through a line with a herd of other people getting food that was prepared an hour ago sitting in a warmer.

my kids love them and my DH and me DISLIKE them !

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I don't like buffets either. I spend more time getting up and making plates with my children than eating. Everyone is eating at a different pace...I feel like the mother in the movie Christmas Story who never has a hot meal. lol

I do enjoy the family style dining. That's why we love a place like Garden Grill over 1900 Park Faire. We are never out of our seats when a character passes.

It makes for a less stressful meal...at least for me.

 

[Tricia1972]

A few posts were just removed because they brought tipping into the discussion.

Reminding everyone that all tipping discussion is limited to The Disney Tipping Info thread, http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2300858, which is stickied at the top of this forum. The first post of that thread gives a brief explanation as to why there is only one thread as well as thread guidelines.

 

[La2kw]

I think the difference is that at a buffet you can see how unclean the food handling is. In a sit down restaurant, it is just as bad, but you don't see it. Trust me, as a teen, I worked in restaurants, and the kitchen is pretty nasty. Employees dropping food on the ground and then putting it on the plate. Employees picking their nose and then touching food. And, that was at all 3 restaurants, not just 1!

But in the kitchen, there aren't 100's of different tourists passing through, some with very poor hygiene habits.

 

[**eeyore**]

Ok, back to square one. I don't think I can do any buffets at DW after reading this thread...lol. Anyone want to recommend any non-buffet, great character interaction meals at DW? DD will be a few days shy of 4 and is all about princesses and recently started to love Mickey.

**It appears we'll have to eat at a buffet for DD to have a character experience. I guess once won't hurt .

As others have mentioned, Akershaus & Ohana are great character meals, served family style (so only your friends & family are the ones sneezing all of the food and licking the serving spoons).

Both are great character meals - we especially enjoy doing Ohana as a late morning brunch after spending the early morning at Magic Kingdom.

The only other tip I have, is if you want to visit a character buffet, try to make the earliest possible reservation in the morning - at least at that point, the fewest fingers have picked through the food. And, if it is at a restaurant in a park, you can have the advantage of getting into the park prior to rope drop. In this instance, I would recommend Tusker House at AK. We've done the first seating there for breakfast and everything is fresh & "untouched" (just make sure you get your fill on the first round, otherwise lots of people will have gone through by the time you go through for 2nds). As a bonus, you are right by Kilimanjaro Safari right at rope drop.

 

[DW2010]

As others have mentioned, Akershaus & Ohana are great character meals, served family style (so only your friends & family are the ones sneezing all of the food and licking the serving spoons).

Both are great character meals - we especially enjoy doing Ohana as a late morning brunch after spending the early morning at Magic Kingdom.

The only other tip I have, is if you want to visit a character buffet, try to make the earliest possible reservation in the morning - at least at that point, the fewest fingers have picked through the food. And, if it is at a restaurant in a park, you can have the advantage of getting into the park prior to rope drop. In this instance, I would recommend Tusker House at AK. We've done the first seating there for breakfast and everything is fresh & "untouched" (just make sure you get your fill on the first round, otherwise lots of people will have gone through by the time you go through for 2nds). As a bonus, you are right by Kilimanjaro Safari right at rope drop.

This is exactly what we're aiming to do. I'm really hoping for a 8AM ressie at Akershus .