Boma: don’t think I can do it anymore

SCDVC2000

Mouseketeer
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
Messages
78
I don’t know if anyone else feels this way. I have always been kind of a germophobe. Have always enjoyed going to Boma, but last time I went (and nothing overly gross happened), I just became more aware of how kind of gross it is to continue to use the same utensils, and not knowing if people touching the food, etc.
I see a shocking number of people who walk out of the bathroom without washing their hands.
 
Yup. Buffets are gross. Had a terrible experience at Biergarten one year and that pretty much did it for me. No buffets, thank you!!
 

I mean, it is what it is. That's the nature of eating out. I don't let it bother me. You gotta keep your immune system on it's toes anyway.

It's not just restaurants either. If you like WDW, well, I've got bad news for you. I was once in line for Spaceship Earth and watched as this baby kept sucking on the railing! The mother would notice, and pull the baby away, but after a minute - right back at it! How many people touched those rails after? Did you? 🤣

People are gross, man. It's all part of being people.
 
We don’t do Boma anymore because it was disappointing, to say the very least, the last three times we went for dinner. Yes, shame on me for giving it two more chances, but I was with different groups each time and didn’t really have a say. We used to really enjoy it, but the food was unappetizing not only in taste but visually, not replenished well, the buffet apron was nasty, service was tedious. We still do the occasional breakfast, and that has still been fine. I kind of miss the soups and salads of dinner though.
 
Personally, not a germaphobe so I don't really think about things like that too often. I do my own hygiene and cleaning/washing, but can't really worry about what everyone else does. Especially at Disney - every mass transportation you board, you're sitting, touching, grabbing handles that thousands have touched, every door you open, ride car you get in, rail you touch, bench you sit on, all have encountered thousands of others, some clean, some not so clean, some sick, and so on. I don't think you could leave your house if you had to avoid everywhere someone else touches. I just try to follow my own basic procedures - wash my hands before eating, and periodically through the day when I've been all over the parks, try to avoid touching my nose, mouth, etc until after I've washed my hands, and avoid grabrails or other high touch areas unless necessary.

I think many my age had the advantage of growing up before things like hand sanitizer existed, and in general when things like getting dirty and playing outside were common - we were exposed routinely from a very young age to millions of bacteria and germs and probably helped build a more hardy immune system. Growing up I did things I wouldn't do today as an adult, just because we never even thought about it - I'd pick up a lizard and play with it, grab muddy rocks off the ground to skip across the water, wipe my hands on my pant leg, and then with friends share a bag of chips - we wouldn't wash out hands until dinner when mom would require it before we sat at the table. We were outside from morning until dinnertime, playing with wildlife and climbing trees and throwing balls, with not a wash or sanitizer in sight!
 
I'm always very aware IF the parks have hand sanitizer after a ride, or entering a restaurant. Sadly, both seem to be rather distant memories at Disney now. And while I know hand sanitizer does not work for everything, I like to minimize Some of the risk of getting sick on vacation.
 
We love Boma! Last time we went we brought our own clear baggy style throw away plastic gloves and used those every time we went through the line. I'm sure it was still germy but we felt better about it :) I'm sure others thought it was weird but I don't like getting sick on vacation.
Wow, actually a smart idea if you want to eat any finger foods after you've gone thru the buffet lines. I'm always very aware IF the parks have hand sanitizer after a ride, or entering a restaurant. Sadly, both seem to be rather distant memories at Disney now. And while I know hand sanitizer does not work for everything, I want to minimize Some of the risk of getting sick on vacation!
 
I'm always very aware IF the parks have hand sanitizer after a ride, or entering a restaurant. Sadly, both seem to be rather distant memories at Disney now. And while I know hand sanitizer does not work for everything, I like to minimize Some of the risk of getting sick on vacation.

I always carry a little bottle of hand sanitizer in the parks. It can be helpful - or at least make you feel a little less gross.
 
I’m not a germaphobe, and I almost never sanitize my hands in the park. Buffets are still absolutely 100% disgusting. People be nasty. Not being disgusted by touching railings on a ride that someone rubbed all over with their pee paws is not the same as eating after touching utensils and plates touched by nasty people and their pee paws.
 
I try to avoid buffets. Not really for sanitary reasons, but that certainly is a concern.
We really don't eat enough to make it worth the cost--especially on vacation. I will usually eat the same portion as if I just ordered off a menu. I could eat more, but I don't want to be too full while touring the parks.
The timing isn't quite as relaxing. When I'm at a restaurant at home, I want to get out of there as fast as possible. But at WDW, we like to use meal times as breaks. We don't linger, but it's nice to space out an app, then a meal. Maybe let the kids get a dessert and have a beer.
I also have a hard time with places that bring a skillet, etc. Like Ohana or LTT. It's hard to watch all that uneaten food be carted off. I've made it a point to be specific when they ask if we want more because otherwise they will bring a whole new skillet when all we really want is a few more noodles.
I still go every once in a while. But, I much prefer ordering off of a menu.
 
I think of virtually anywhere similar, a Disney buffet would have the most proactive and safety related protocols. I’ve eaten at people’s homes who practiced less safety proctol than some street food vendors I’ve seen.

You’re probably safer eating at Boma than most restaurants in your own town.
 
Better avoid all the parks and all the rides too then!
I have seen multiple children not just touching, but licking the walls and handrails in the queues on my trips. 🤣
 
A Boma tip is to ropedrop opening and ask for a table by the window. You get to be one of the first through the line, everything is fresh, and you are ahead of the crowd.
 
As a slight germaphobe, infection prevention nurse, but also a lover of Boma, me and my family will go wash our hands before eating after handling the utensils others have also handled. We do this especially if there are foods we may touch with our fingers. As a sign says that I have in my office: “Wash your hands and say your prayers because Jesus and germs are everywhere.” 😀
 
Totally understand. The older I get, the more I think about it and when I was ready to make a Boma reservation literally yesterday, I remembered this trip is with my husband and though it now freaks me out a little, it definitely freaks him out. So I'm thankful for this discussion and decided no to Boma etc.

I went numerous times during each Covid year with husband, and/or grown daughter and we never caught Covid the entire time. We did use sanitizer (I know many feel useless but we definitely think it helps) plus washed hands religiously. I liked during those Covid years when every few feet Disney had a Sanitizer machine and we used and loved. I know it's an added expense for Disney (the horror!) but sure would appreciate a sanitizer all over the park. Those who feel it's unnecessary, don't use. Our family wiould definitely use.
 


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