Hoop-dee-doo and serious food waste.

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . the amount of food wasted absolutely killed me . . .

1) What about
. . . the wasted food at other buffets?
. . . the large restaurant portions to justify the price?
. . . the spoilage at supermarkets?
2) Not just at WDW, but most eateries.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

1) What about
. . . the wasted food at other buffets?
. . . the large restaurant portions to justify the price?
. . . the spoilage at supermarkets?
2) Not just at WDW, but most eateries.

Yeah, it all pretty much stinks and I think about I do think about those things, but I was eating at HDDR in DW and that is what made an impression on me at the time.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Just for thought......WDW donates all *unserved cooked/fresh food to local food banks and kitchens on a daily bases.....it a number of tons

AKK

 

[itchin2go]

We loved the HDDR so much when we went 10 days ago, but the amount of food wasted absolutely killed me. I couldn't believe the amount of food they brought out for just two people. At least a whole chicken, a whole bucket of ribs. Very large portions of mashed potatoes, beans and strawberry shortcake.
Dh and I only ate a piece of chicken each and when they came to clear the table for dessert it dawned on me that the whole entire bucket would go into the trash. Sigh...why do they do that? Why not just bring a few pieces or ask which pieces we would prefer? I know they need to be quick and efficient, but people are starving all over the world. Imagine if all that chicken went to a soup kitchen in Orlando. I know, I know, the amount of food wasted by people at DW is unbelievable everywhere on the property...it still just kills me.

We felt the same way about 'Ohana. To each their own, and of course there are ways to rationalize it away, and of course there is waste everywhere ... BUT it left us feeling kind of sad. You're not alone, OP.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I can't imagine that any 2 people could eat 1 full bucket of chicken, full bucket of ribs, large bowl of mashed pot, pot of beans, and large shared dessert...and I actually forgot all about the loaf of cornbread and the large salad. I guess there are those few, but generally I don't think so. I'm thinking they serve the same portions to tables of 1 or 6, and bring out more if requested. Your right though, I am sure they have it figured on monetary waste-wise and adjust as they see need. Still stinks though. LOL

Panera Bread is one of the only "fast" food we eat at. My best friend used to pick up leftovers for a food bank near her house and she was allowed a few items for herself which she shared. Such a great practice for a company. They also use natural antibiotic/hormone free chicken as well as some organics for kids meals.

Yep--we love them! Pricy though.

I guess now that you know, if you ever dined there again, you could ask them to go easy. But I imagine they are set up "cruise ship style" in their kitchen where it is a huge assembly line style and the servers can just grab and go quickly.

Good to hear Tonka's Skippers comment that Disney does practice what Panera does. The rub though again, is unserved food. Charity must still follow health regulations.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Just for thought......WDW donates all *unserved cooked/fresh food to local food banks and kitchens on a daily bases.....it a number of tons

AKK

We were told just the opposite - that WDW is not allowed to donate leftover food, due to food safety and liability issues.

 

[vicki_c]

We were told just the opposite - that WDW is not allowed to donate leftover food, due to food safety and liability issues.

The key word is "unserved", I believe. As in food that is still in the kitchen and hasn't been brought out to the dining area.

 

[Mixie]

I remember mentioning something at Ohana about how much extra food there was for just the 2 of us.

Our waitress assured us that the uneaten food is used elsewhere on the property. She said something specific - I honestly can't remember what now - but I think some of it goes to the animals and some of it was composted.

I don't know if that's true, but that's what she said.

I'm not sure if *all* of it is used elsewhere, but even if just some of it, it's better than none.

 

[Swalphin]

Food Donation and Walt Disney World
By Jennifer Hancox, on April 29th, 2010
How important is Food Donation? Looking at the EPA Food Waste Hierarchy we see that the best way to eliminate food waste is to reduce it at the source. Source reduction is the easiest, best and least expensive way to reduce your waste footprint. The next best thing is food donation – feeding hungry people. That makes food donation pretty important.

Most of us live or work in an area that has some sort of food bank, soup kitchen or food recovery service. But are we using them? Do they want the kind of food we have in surplus? Do we even have enough food to donate? Are we concerned about food safety and liability? Click on the link “food donation” to get answers and learn more about what you can do in your area. This link will answer your questions about: tax benefits for donating, information about food safety and protection from liability, even the typical types of food donated. There are also several links to help you find a food bank or recovery site in your area.

Imagine if all food operations in one small town donated all surplus food to their local food bank. How much food would that be? How many hungry would they feed?

Here’s an example: Disney. It’s a theme park but made to look like a small town with shops, restaurants and hotels. This ’small town’ is really making a difference in their food donation efforts. The Disney Harvest Food Program collects food that has been prepared and not served, donating almost 50,000 pounds of edible food each month!

Let’s all work on source reduction and feeding hungry people. We can make a huge impact with those two goals.ShareThis

 

[DonaldTDuck]

I can't imagine that any 2 people could eat 1 full bucket of chicken, full bucket of ribs, large bowl of mashed pot, pot of beans, and large shared dessert...and I actually forgot all about the loaf of cornbread and the large salad. I guess there are those few, but generally I don't think so.

raises hand shyly
Then we ask for more ribs and usually taters and beans. In my defense, I never eat any of the salad.
Admittedly, I'm a big eater. I'm a professional cook(not chef) and see food waste all the time. It is skeery, but not as bad as 2 light eaters looking at what's left from a family style meal makes it. Try to relax at WDW and let them worry about it.

 

[BillSears]

I'm doing the HDDR as a solo guest in May. I'm sure there will be a huge amount of wasted food...but no wasted Strawberry Shortcake.

 

[AustinTink]

Well, you guys only ate a piece of chicken each. That's not what the average person would eat. And you ate none of the rest of the meal? I apologize but didn't you know what was served before you went there? If you didn't want the family style meal that's included with the show, then maybe you shouldn't have gone.

What you were served was for the average table of two. You didn't eat as much which is fine. But don't call out Disney for that.

Really? Even with ribs and sides? Wow.

I agree with the OP, way too much food for two people. Indeed a waste.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

raises hand shyly
It is skeery, but not as bad as 2 light eaters looking at what's left from a family style meal makes it.

I have to say again that I am by no means a "light eater". I'm a moderately fat woman who gained all her weight eating meat and potatoes and preferring seconds of that to dessert. I can tell you with absolute honesty that I am not a light eater...I am also almost 6 mos. pregnant...so rest assured I can hold my own. It really is just a lot of food to serve for two.

 

[dalt01]

maybe the CM's eat the leftovers.......................or maybe it is re-bucketed for the next show............

 

[k&a&c'smom]

The key word is "unserved", I believe. As in food that is still in the kitchen and hasn't been brought out to the dining area.

Thanks for the clarification, and for the article, Swalphin. I'm very glad to hear they are able to donate some of the food, at least. Here was the context of my confusion:

We were chatting with a group of CL cast members, when another guest approached and asked if there were any bagels left from the breakfast service. One of the cast members said no, they had already been thrown out, sorry. When the guest walked away, we asked the cast members about the food, and how it was dealt with; they all assured us that they are directed to throw out everything that does not get eaten - even the trays that are sent up, but not put out for guests. (meaning, the first trays did not get emptied, so extras were not needed that day)

Perhaps the food is considered "served" once it leaves the central kitchen? In that case, it wouldn't matter if guests asked to have less food brought to their table - whatever was assigned to HDDR would have to be disposed of? Just musing, not debating!

 

[B.B. Sots]

This is an interesting topic that has come up a few times where I work.

I looked into it to make sure that I was not defending Disney, just because I am a Mousehead....

Some articles I found:

• http://www.p2pays.org/ref/06/05430.pdf (this talks about "Disney Harvest")
• http://www.ieca.org/conference/annual/greeningtheconference.asp (talks about the recycling of the used protions)
• http://2010.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2010-09-22/201009221285186657880.html (Talks About the companies that have restaurants at WDW and how they work to donate portions)

Although Disney does have an abundance of waste, this is because this is what people expect when they go to WDW.

It is a catch 22 in many cases. Disney serves less.. Guest Satisfaction goes down... Leading to less people coming to the parks... leading to shareholder unrest.... Leading to binging back the portions.

Guess what I am trying to say is that, although I agree Disney has an abundance of waste, at least they make efforts to use and Re-use what they have. There is always room for improvement... and Disney spends major cash on this each year to figure it out.

 

[marcyinPA]

OP, I totally know what you mean.

My best friend, her daughter, my DS11 and myself ate at Ohana two weeks ago. They brought out seconds of food items that we had not requested (another bowl of veggies, and noodles), while we still had those items on the table! Before we could say anything, the server disappeared. He literally dropped and ran...they do move fast there. I felt bad...they were not eaten, and went to waste.

I think there are some ways to control that wastefulness...don't bring out more unless it is requested, and bring out one serving per person at a time. Since it is all you can eat, they can bring you more if you want more. To me, that is how it should work. Plus, the food will stay hot that way too!

 

[Noletucker]

Growing up catholic and going to catholic school through high school, I simply hate to waste food! The nuns were very concerned about wasting food

when we eat at Disney, We split our meals, I usually order a salad as an entree, and hubby gets the entree. and we share his.We do 1 buffet...Boma...and we eat our share there!

We tried the ddp once....way too much food for us

I really wish Restaurants would offer the option of a smaller size meal, I don't even care about it being a different price. I have actually been told( not at Disney) that they cant' bring out a smaller size or leave off the potatoes because it would look poor to other customers.....

so, If wasted food really bothers you, you can check the menus ahead of time, and split your dinner, and don't go to buffets

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

The key word is "unserved", I believe. As in food that is still in the kitchen and hasn't been brought out to the dining area.

You have it right..thats *unserved food, unopened and some fresh food*, anything that has been served or placed in the buffet line cannot be given away do to health issues.

I lreaned this from a disney dvd which was showing how *green* disney is.

Actually some of the thing they do is pretty high tech......like using grey water for watering landscape...

AKK

 

[BBQMonster]

Just curious which piece of the chicken did you and your husband eat? Leg, Breast, Wing, or Thigh?
BBQMonster