Buffets...what happens to the rest?!

[roxysmum123]

Hi all

The venues we love are buffet only, but we're VERY concerned about being wasteful and having more food than our guests will eat. I know there will never be an empty chafing dish, so just wondering if anyone knows what happens with all the extra food? Does it go in the trash? Can we request for it to be donated to a homeless shelter or hospital? Do CM's get to take "to-go" containers at the end of the night?

 

[TiffinyKaye]

I'm not 100% sure (ask your planner), but I am fairly certain it gets thrown away. The reason I say this is because I believe health code dictates it.

They won't even let me, as the bride, take home any leftovers from my buffet in an effort to save what would be wasted food. Maybe if you did talk to your planner and say you would invite CMs directly after your wedding to come eat the rest, maybe they would?

I would highly doubt it though. Be prepared to know that it's wasteful. That's America though. Think of all the other buffets in Walt Disney World, and all the food that goes to waste when it's not eaten? It happens.

Tiffiny

 

[CinderellasBFF]

Disney does donate at least some left over food to charity, although it may not be able to for buffets because of food safety concerns. When I worked at the bakery on Main Street at the Magic Kingdom in 1999, we boxed up anything that did not sell and it was taken to a local food bank.

 

[roxysmum123]

Thanks for the replies. While I understand, its' pretty upsetting to think of all that going to waste. Guess it's time to crunch numbers on a plated meal instead.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I am a hostess at a banquet hall and the one and only catering company we use, will use the left overs to feed the wait staff workers. Our catering company does not make a ton of left overs. Typically it one extra pan of each food being served ie: one extra pan of potatoes, vegi, meat. Remember the food made is what you have paid for so they won't go over board making food. They have to watch their budget too. So don't be overly concerned about the food going to waste.

 

[Deannacooper93]

I talked to one of the chefs and he said for buffets they make as they go. So they do not just make one huge batch and leave it out. They are constantly only replenishing the food that needs to be refilled. They do that so one) the food does not get cold and 2) so there is not food being wasted

 

[DisneyBride2014]

I just got married last Monday and had my reception at the Whitehall patio. One of my guests asked what happens to the food and they said anything that was already made and put out goes to the "chefs special" which is basically a big bucket of all leftovers that are used to make the compost that they fertilize the grounds with. If there was any food that was made but not put out then that food is donated. Hope this helps!