Buffets vs. Non-buffets & getting sick at WDW

[DisneyAllison]

This is probably a really WEIRD question to ask, but I'll take my chances and ask anyway...

I am so worried about DD catching a stomach virus / food poisoning while in WDW. I never used to worry about these things until DD was born. She was a tiny preemie, so we became germ-concious very quickly after she was born. I admit I probably worry WAY too much, but am still curious...

Hypothetically, do you think that eating at a buffet would increase her chances of catching a tummy bug or food poisoning? (I know she can get germs in other obvious places in the parks etc, but right now I am just thinking of FOOD ONLY.)

Any ideas??

 

[raidermatt]

I think the greater danger is from food preparation and handling, so if there is an increased risk with the buffets, its only slight. From what I've seen and others have reported, Disney is good about changing out trays and such if they sit too long, even if its not all gone.

As far as people touching/sneezing on the food, most don't do that. And if they do, they are also touching the doors, chairs, tables, counters, etc.

 

[Snow_White]

All I can tell you is my husband now refuses to eat at buffets because of the germs (so many people do not have good hygiene and he does not enjoy eating after them). The last time we went to a buffet, he caught something because he was projectile vomiting immediately after Needless to say, no more buffets for us.

 

[sunee]

At Park Fare, I once saw a kid with both hands in the food tray, squeezing the food through his fingers like sand. It was totally disgusting.

Not saying your child will get sick...I just never forgot that and think about it every time I want to grab something from the kiddie section of the buffets.

Yuuuuuuuu-uk.

 

[septbaby]

My brother was 2.5 months early, only about 3lbs at birth and 6ft by age 13! Don't limit your child because she was a preemie. Your daughter is 3 and won't get anything from the buffet that you don't place on her plate, so I'd say she's really safe. We'll have a 5yr old with us and 3 out of 4 TS meals are buffets, we are excited to try each one. He actually eats better at buffets, more choices and there is something about them being able to pick their food that seems to empower them, entertainment for you. You may discover a new food that she'll eat because you let her try it at a buffet.

I'm glad buffets weren't so readily available when I was a youngster. Like many I would have lost my mind at the dessert table and my grandmother would have proceeded to "assist me" in regaining my senses!

I speak as both a consumer and business owner, I own a restaurant. We've never had a health deptment violation. Our place is not a buffet.

 

[Christine]

I would say that the buffets would probably give you the most issues. Not anything that Disney is doing--of course. I go to various buffets and they are very good about watching the food, changing out trays, making sure everything is hot.

Your issue is the crowds and the sheer number of people touching the serving spoons. They don't clean these after each use. Now, I know on the Disney cruise line they have people serve you on the buffet in an effort to keep the noravirus to a minimum on the cruise ship. But they do not do this at WDW. So, I think you do increase your chances of picking up germs at the buffets just by having so many people touching the serving utensils. I think the food itself is fine.

 

[paintnolish]

I would be more concerned about her touching things, like railings and handles, and then transfering those germs to herself. Make sure to remind her to keep her hands away from her face and wash her hands or use wipes or sanitizer before eating. I really would not be concerned about food prep.

 

[Tiffany]

This is probably a really WEIRD question to ask, but I'll take my chances and ask anyway...

I am so worried about DD catching a stomach virus / food poisoning while in WDW. I never used to worry about these things until DD was born. She was a tiny preemie, so we became germ-concious very quickly after she was born. I admit I probably worry WAY too much, but am still curious...

Hypothetically, do you think that eating at a buffet would increase her chances of catching a tummy bug or food poisoning? (I know she can get germs in other obvious places in the parks etc, but right now I am just thinking of FOOD ONLY.)

Any ideas??

You are at no more risk then when you eat out in your home town. If you take your daughter out to eat in your home town your risks would be no greater just because you are eating at WDW.

 

[Mom of 3]

My kids have just got over the rotavirus. The doctor said it is highly contagious but I have no idea where they got it. Incubation is 2 days which means they would have got it at Jumpin Beans (inflatable playland) or the local swimming pool. We never ate at either place so they must have got it from just touching stuff or using the bathroom. It was not a fun 10 days here.

My big fear is the kids will get sick while on vacation. I don't have a fear of buffets or the food but just the germs in general. The kids touch stuff and then put their fingers in their mouth. Getting sick could ruin your whole vacation and it cost so much to go in the first place.

 

[murcor]

jmho....I think buffets are very dirty. After saying this, I do eat at buffets but make sure I get the first seating before the kids sneeze & cough over the food and the serving utensils are toughed by hundreds of people.

I have 2 kids that tend to get sick very easily and catch everything going around.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I have never been sick at WDW from any type of dining place...and we have gone for years and years...and then Oct 06 happened.

We went to CM for dinner and I tried this pasta in a cream sauce and no one else in my party had it. We had all eated the same thing that day, bagels for breakfast and pizza for lunch. A few hours later I was feeling ill, and by 11pm that night I though I was dying....it was the worst case of food poisoning I ever had and lasted for almost 2 days.

That does not stop me from eating at buffets....we still go to many of them in WDW, once time in over 18 years of going to WDW will not make me change my mind out dining there. I figure you can get sick from anything from anyplace in any town.

I do not see that many kids unsupervised at the buffet, older ones sure but not little ones.

 

[tasha99]

I have been wondering the same thing--partly because I'm home sick with the flu. What if this happened on my vacation? At least with regular restaurant food the only people who have touched it are in the kitchen.

I used to work for Royal Caribbean, and they have servers serve the buffets after an incident of norovirus. I know it would cost more, but I've never understood why they don't have servers serve on every sailing if the buffets are such a concern. Maybe that would make an outbreak less likely or less severe to begin with.

 

[caracap]

Not a weird question at all.

Since having my 3 children, I will do anything in my power to TRY to avoid any stomach virus. It is AWFUL, not to mention even more awful if on vacation. I avoid all buffets at all times. I do the pre-plated or family style character meals. I have done a buffet in the past (CM's, CP), but it was the first seating of the day. I have my September trip planned, and do not have one ADR for a character buffet. The problem is people grab with their hands, kids, sneeze, grab & put back. I have seen it all. Also, because it's Disney, people are more likely to bring out their sick kids, and not let them just get better in the hotel.

 

[keeping quiet]

Totally understandable concern and honestly, people can just be gross and unthinking. I want to preface this with the fact that I am the mother of a 2 year old with a chronic gastrointestinal illness (relatively severe), a culinary school graduate and a disney server.

In culinary school, I spent an entire semester in a food service sanitation course. I am lucky I eat anything period! It was the most disgusting class I have ever taken, but also the most informative. We had a field trip to a restaurant just to watch servers touch their hair, money, etc.,then bring a glass or something out. I was a server at the time of the class and was so very aware of this. I am super anal as a server now.

At Disney, we have our own sanitation inspections. These are far tougher than what the State does. My location was just inspected 5 times in 1 month. Not because we were bad, but because they just decided to keep trying to catch us up on something (they didn't find much!!!). I state this just to give you an idea of the sanitation guidelines at WDW. I have worked in many WDW restaurants and have always been impressed with the cleanliness and adherence to safety guidelines. It is one place I feel extremely comfortable eating no matter what. A few years back, a New York station did an "expose" on Disney restaurants and bad health inspections. Unfortunately, all the ones they listed, while on Disney property, were not owned by Disney but rather participants. Throw the name Disney in and you will get attention though.

As someone else said, your issue will probably be more related to the handrails, etc. We had a bought of rotovirus in my house as well (even I got it) and it is a fecal to mouth transfer. Wash your hands often and ALWAYS after going to the bathroom and you will be fine. Remember that sanitizer rubbed onto unwashed hands is now just sanitized, dirty hands (learned in a Disney safety class LOL). Use soap and water first and often, then follow with the sani wipes.

All that being said, try to relax and have fun. I take my daughter to the parks often and it doesn't exacerbate her condition and I have gotten good at letting a lot of things go.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

As much as my family loves to eat dinner at Boma (and we have been there at least 3 or 4 times) the last time we ate there two years ago, 5 out of our party of 7 got sick within hours of eating! We went from the AKL to an EMH at AK, and by the time we got through the park gates, two people had to run to the restrooms. Two more felt queasy and left for the resort immediately. One more was sick all the next day. My DD and I felt fine! We stayed for the EMH, rode Kali 5 times in a row, and the next day were the only ones to show up for our dinner at Ohana! The funny thing is, to the best of our knowledge, we all ate the same things!
Naturally, DD and I will go to Boma again in September (fingers crossed!)

 

[bzzymom]

I am more worried about germs on the handrails of the attractions than I am eating at a buffet at WDW. If you keep good hand hygiene, you should be fine. Hand hygiene is a must everywhere you go.

 

[hmp2z]

I think it's a valid question; because of the superabundance of unsupervised children running around the restaurants here, probably far, far more than at any restaurant in your hometown, the buffet restaurants are dubious. I've seen quite a few gross children incidents at WDW buffets. Considering the sheer numbers of unsupervised children visiting the buffets, it's bound to happen frequently. I'd definitely consider this, if you have a child in a fragile health state.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[DisneyAllison]

Thank you for all of the great replies! I just want to be as prepared as possible when we go down. I plan to bring plenty of anti-bacterial hand wipes with us. The handrails, etc do concern me, but at least I can be aware of it, and wipe hands as needed. We only have 2 buffets scheduled, so hopefully we will be OK. We are eating at Play & Dine @ Hollywood & Vine the first morning of our trip; and at Chef Mickeys for dinner the next night.

Thanks for being so understanding. I am TERRIFIED of any stomach bug (at anytime). DD and I both seem to get any stomach bug that is going around "with style". Even if it is just a minor bug, both of us have an awful time with it. The last time we had one (at the same time - poor DH!!! ), DD and I both ended up in the hospital the next day with severe dehydration. YUCK!!!!

We plan to travel prepared!

 

[Christine]

Thank you for all of the great replies! I just want to be as prepared as possible when we go down. I plan to bring plenty of anti-bacterial hand wipes with us. The handrails, etc do concern me, but at least I can be aware of it, and wipe hands as needed. We only have 2 buffets scheduled, so hopefully we will be OK. We are eating at Play & Dine @ Hollywood & Vine the first morning of our trip; and at Chef Mickeys for dinner the next night.

Thanks for being so understanding. I am TERRIFIED of any stomach bug (at anytime). DD and I both seem to get any stomach bug that is going around "with style". Even if it is just a minor bug, both of us have an awful time with it. The last time we had one (at the same time - poor DH!!! ), DD and I both ended up in the hospital the next day with severe dehydration. YUCK!!!!

We plan to travel prepared!

I think another poster pointed this out, but I will say it again. They have shown that the hand wipes and gel do nothing against Norovirus (the virus that causes the awful stomach problems). You need to wash to get rid of that. The best bet is that while you go to the buffet you should not let your daughter serve herself so that she does not touch the utensils.

 

[2x_dis_dad]

We have been to many of the buffets at WDW. We never let the kids get their own food. We have DS6 and DD3. One adult stays at the table with the kids while the other gets the kids food. We have never had an issue of anyone getting sick from the buffets, and we go to WDW 4 or 5 times a year.