Buffet question

[*~Shorty*MoMo~*]

Hello! Me and my family are spending a week in Disney World next March and almost all of our breakfast reservations are buffets. I've always been kinda paranoid about buffets since I know its easier to get sick from them. The last few times we went to a buffet I was much younger so I don't remember it and I was wondering if most people follow the satiation rules or if most people do just stick their hands in the food.

Also if anyone has information on Disney Worlds food sanitation laws that would be great!!

I know I'm being way to paranoid but I've been very sick on vacation before and I'd really hate for that to happen in Disney World too!!

Thanks

 

[DrivnMeUpTheWall-E]

I have never noticed any violations, and have never gotten sick from any of the Disney buffets.

 

[RMulieri]

Buffets are buffets.Disney is pretty good about removing contaminated stuff, but it is a buffet and stuff happens.

 

[pad406]

We love the buffets. There is a fairly quick turnaround on them so need to worry about food sitting around for hours. Actually booked about 70% buffets for our trip in April.

 

[john1928]

This is a "if you have to ask...." type of question.

If you have to ask, you should probably avoid it...

In general, folks are usually good about using utensils, not hacking into a tray of whatever, and I've never seen anyone stick their hand "into" any food. But... There are kids everywhere at Disney including in the buffets, and when allowed to run wild (some of them will be) they tend to be much less observant of good hygene (I scolded a kid at Tusker house for licking a dessert and putting it back, his parent was much harsher than I was when she heard...). There are at least some adults who fall under that umbrella as well.

Personally, between what our kids/cousins/neighbor pass around, the stuff floating around my office, and what happens in the kitchen of almost any resturant from time to time I'm not too worried about a Disney buffet. But, if it is something you're concerned about there are plenty of other choices available, so I wouldn't stress out about it.

 

[carrie1626]

Buffets are buffets.Disney is pretty good about removing contaminated stuff, but it is a buffet and stuff happens.

I've seen it myself --someone actually putting the spoon in their mouth and back in the dish. I stood there and told a CM who promptly removed it. Gross!!!

Look for the fresh hot/cold dishes as soon as they come out. Do not serve from a dish that's almost empty-those have the best% of being contaminated.
Also, make your ADR as close to opening as possible.

 

[B-Ride]

The only time I have ever gotten sick from a buffet was from eating too much.

Seriously, I don't think going to a buffet is more risky than having someone sneeze on you when you are waiting in line for an attraction. People who are sick are probably more conscious of what they are doint when they are at a buffet.

 

[h2odivers]

I'm pretty sure that the Princess character breakfast is not a Buffet. And Cinderella's royal table is not a buffet. Someone correct me if i'm wrong. There are probably more at the different resorts. But I can't think of any right now. Have fun and Bon Appetit!

 

[MrsLS]

If you are worried, I would take along a small hand sanitizer and use it after you sit down (after you get your food) because you are still touching the spoons and everything else you've touched before you've entered the restaurant (which I would suggest you do even if its not a buffet if you are worried).

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have been to all the buffets, breakfast and dinner and the only one I was ill from was Chef Mickeys dinner, some pasta in a cream sauce didnt agree with me.

I have no problem going to a breakfast buffet but we stay away from all dinner buffets (except Cape May Clambake) because we do not care for the quality of the foods

 

[caaraa]

There is a fairly quick turnaround on them so need to worry about food sitting around for hours.

 

[Caitriona]

If you are worried, I would take along a small hand sanitizer and use it after you sit down (after you get your food) because you are still touching the spoons and everything else you've touched before you've entered the restaurant (which I would suggest you do even if its not a buffet if you are worried).

This is what I was going to suggest, as well. My DH and I also got very sick after a buffet and I'm now slightly leery of them. However, we didn't put it down to bad food, but because anyone with dirty hands may have touched the serving utensils. I imagine that it isn't much different from some of the fixings bars even at some of the CS locations?! -- I know that I will be taking the hand sanitizer with me, because I also never want to go through that again either, and I do want to eat at some character buffets. It's unfortunate that not everyone washes their hands after using the restroom or they even sneeze directly into their hands before touching things like serving utensils etc. I figure that as long as we sanitize our hands before touching our own silverware and eating, we should be fine

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I'm pretty sure that the Princess character breakfast is not a Buffet. And Cinderella's royal table is not a buffet. Someone correct me if i'm wrong. There are probably more at the different resorts. But I can't think of any right now. Have fun and Bon Appetit!

'Ohanas is served family style so you are only sharing with your own table.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

This is a "if you have to ask...." type of question.

If you have to ask, you should probably avoid it...

In general, folks are usually good about using utensils, not hacking into a tray of whatever, and I've never seen anyone stick their hand "into" any food. But... There are kids everywhere at Disney including in the buffets, and when allowed to run wild (some of them will be) they tend to be much less observant of good hygene (I scolded a kid at Tusker house for licking a dessert and putting it back, his parent was much harsher than I was when she heard...). There are at least some adults who fall under that umbrella as well.

Personally, between what our kids/cousins/neighbor pass around, the stuff floating around my office, and what happens in the kitchen of almost any resturant from time to time I'm not too worried about a Disney buffet. But, if it is something you're concerned about there are plenty of other choices available, so I wouldn't stress out about it.

Totally agree, but it's not just kids! At Tusker House, a perfectly grown adult male, took a croissant with his hands looked it over and put it back, right there in front of me.

Of course when I tapped him on the shoulder, held out his croissant with tongs and said, " My rule, once you've fondled it, it's yours! Got me an embarrassed little giggle, he then took his croissant and ran!

Personally, if I was that concerned about it, why then choose so many buffets!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Yep, there is going to be a bit of less than stellar sanitation, but probably not a lot worse that all the stuff you come in contact with everywhere else in the parks. As long as your immune system is pretty normal you should be ok. Our stomachs are pretty tough on all those gross germs!

 

[*~Shorty*MoMo~*]

Thanks for all the great replies!!

I'll for sure keep all this in mind and my mom is always good about bring hand sanitizer anywhere we go (I also carry one since I'm a complete germ freak if that wasn't already clear ) and I had forgotten about how they change out the food from time to time which makes me feel better the main reason for the buffet breakfasts is too see the characters or else we wouldn't have chosen so many of them.

The ones I'm most worried about are Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace and 1900 Park Fare since those are much more likely to be very crowded but for the character interaction we just couldn't turn them down!

Thank you all again for the help!!