How abnormal will I look if I wear throw away gloves at buffets?

[LilyWDW]

No, haven't definetely made up my mind that I will wear one, that is why I'm asking the question. I inspect restaurants on a daily basis and foodhandlers must wear disposable gloves, so it's very common for me to see. (yes, I know I'm not a foodhandler) Perhaps, I will just run and wash my hands and let my food cool down a bit. Thanks for the honest opinions. Linda

Then don't go to buffets.

Personally, I think it is very overboard to wear gloves to handle the food if you are not an employee. There is NO connection that your child got sick due to germs at a buffet. It could have been something they ate or germs picked up from ANYWHERE else. Do you realize how many kids lick the hand rails?

And if you are going to wear gloves, please do not use latex.

 

[divawife]

Frankly I would be afraid of you! Seriously I would think you had some disease you were trying to control.

So I have to say in answer to your direct question without any snark...you would indeed look wierd.

Don't do it-avoid buffets. Germs just come with them!

 

[quirty30]

This is one reason I don't do buffets but if u wear glove who cares what others think. You do what YOU think it best.

Agreed. My son & I both ended up with horrible stomach issues after eating at 1900 Park Fare in May. Thankfully my kids are a bit older and not big on character buffets anymore. Besides, I like to get waited on when I'm on vacation - I'll just forego buffets in the future.

 

[jblrn2b]

You're kidding, right?

I would think there was something wrong with you (ie sickness) and stay far, far away from you.

Ditto!

 

[cheyandrew7]

You're kidding, right?

I would think there was something wrong with you (ie sickness) and stay far, far away from you.

I strongly agree

 

[padawans]

Honestly I think you would look ridiculous. I'm 40 years old I never used hand sanitizier when I was a kid and I still don't use it. I just don't get the germ phobia craze. The chemicals in the all the cleaners we use are probably more harmful than the germs. All that that stuff gets inhaled and absorbed through the skin. I wonder how the human species survived all those years without all this stuff.

 

[TDC Nala]

OP here. No, don't have OCD but have had both of my children get vomiting the last day we left WDW (on two separate visits). And, I have to disagree about I would have to wear gloves all around disney (handrails, rides etc). When you are at a buffet, you are going to eat and have hand to mouth contact. This is how one usually gets the Norovirus. I am a licensed health inspector, so go to many classes on communicable diseases. Another thing, when I enter a hotel room, I bring sanitizer wipes and sanitize the doorknobs, remote etc. In the past, I have not been vigilant with making sure my children and myself wash our hands every time before we eat, but this trip I will. Why? Because after spending $4,000. on a vacation I don't want one or more of us sick with vomiting. To each his own.

PS The reason for gloves instead of sanitizer is because they say sanitizer does not kill the norovirus.

Doesn't change the fact that if you wear the gloves, yes you will get looks...because guests at buffets do not usually wear gloves to serve themselves. No reason not to do it, but you did ask if you would get looks. Personally if it makes you feel better about going to a buffet with your children I don't know why it makes a difference what other people think.

 

[Cooky]

How abnormal will I look if I wear throw away gloves at buffets?

I know this may seem like a stange question but we have a big box of plastic disposable gloves that I was thinking of putting on one of my hands that I use to retrieve all the food at buffets (large serving spoons, tongs etc). I know some of you might say, why don't you just wash your hands. Well, I will before I go up to the buffet but once I get my food, I don't want it sitting at the table while I go to wash my hands. So many people handle the serving utensil at these buffets and I don't want to pick up some nasty virus right before I eat. Anyone else ever do this? Will people look at me like this

"How abnormal will I look if I wear throw away gloves at buffets?"
I think people would notice.

"Anyone else ever do this?"
No.

"Will people look at me like this"
If I was standing right behind you in line, I would be nervous. I would be thinking why are you wearing a glove, do you have some contagious skin disease? That would be my first thought and I probably would lose my appetite thinking about you and your glove.

You are right to be concerned, but I don't think this is the best way to protect yourself. With buffets, it's not only the utensils people touch, they often touch the buffet food with their hands if they are reaching over it. I don't think your glove will protect you from germs on the food itself.

 

[catne]

if you're that concerned about the norovirus, why are you eating at buffets? People don't just touch the utensils, you know. They drop the utensils into the food and then juggle the utensils in the food spreading their germs in and amongst the food. Some just plain use their fingers instead of the utensils. I've seen people pick up food with the utensils, put it on their plate, then pick it up with their hands, sniff it and toss it back in the food bin. People cough, sneeze, breath on the food. I've seen people stick their finger in the sauce & lick it to see what it tastes like before getting a spoonful. And then repeat at the next food item. I've seen people walk down buffet lines in the restaurants grazing on the food as they go...NOT putting the food on their own plates & eating it, just reaching in and grabbing a bite here, a bite there. Adults. Kids. Grandmas. Grandpas. Uncle Billy. Aunt Margy. Not kidding. If you don't want germs, don't go to buffets anywhere.

To answer your title question...You will look very abnormal if you wear throw away gloves at buffets. What you really need to decide is do you care whether or not you look abnormal at buffets. And is the whole family going to wear them? You mention kids getting sick before...gonna make them wear gloves too. If the whole family is wearing gloves I'm afraid you'll be treated like space aliens...

 

[V a n e s s a]

If you are so worried about the serving utensils, it would be less conspicuous to ask the waiter to bring you some table spoons and use those to dish up the food. Alternatively, you could bring your own disposable serving utensils.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

Actually, I've had a big problem with buffets ever since our last visit. We were at Chef Mickey and I saw a few young girls picking up food with their hands and then putting it back after they handled it. Their mother was with them and did not tell them not to do it!

I would think that gloves are not really going to help... you will still be exposed to those germs by virtue of open food handled by the public.

 

[mousermerf]

And this, dear children, is why i don't like buffets..

 

[Danibelle]

We don't do buffets routinely but we did take our grandkids to CM's. We had an early ADR and the food was just being put out. I did not see anyone sticking their fingers into the food (something I HAVE seen at Golden Corral). No one got sick. That being said, I would minimize my buffet experiences (even at WDW). I do wash my hands a lot wherever I am and I take packets of wipes when traveling. I don't use sanitizer (don't think it helps that much). I don't plan any buffets unless I am visiting with the smaller grandkids. I prefer table service for my vacation $$.

 

[RMulieri]

Will people look at you like you are crazy?..YES.
But if it gives you peace, go for it. I will say it really isn't protecting you all that much.I am an Rn and exposed to all manner of organisms and infectious matter throughout my shift, and can tell you that gowning,masking and gloving doesn't always protect me.But if it helps you sleep at night
I will say to expect strange looks and probably comments too.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Sorry OP - I would think you were a bit odd.

But seriously, I eat with a knife and fork - and therefore would not have hand to mouth contact. I mean my hands may have cooties but how is that transferring to the food?

And yes, I find people who drag out their sanitizer everywhere to be complete freaks as well.

 

[TisBit]

OP here. No, don't have OCD but have had both of my children get vomiting the last day we left WDW (on two separate visits). And, I have to disagree about I would have to wear gloves all around disney (handrails, rides etc). When you are at a buffet, you are going to eat and have hand to mouth contact. This is how one usually gets the Norovirus. I am a licensed health inspector, so go to many classes on communicable diseases. Another thing, when I enter a hotel room, I bring sanitizer wipes and sanitize the doorknobs, remote etc. In the past, I have not been vigilant with making sure my children and myself wash our hands every time before we eat, but this trip I will. Why? Because after spending $4,000. on a vacation I don't want one or more of us sick with vomiting. To each his own.

PS The reason for gloves instead of sanitizer is because they say sanitizer does not kill the norovirus.

If you are concerned mostly with Norovirus, the utensils are a good way to spread it, but when Noro breaks out it is everywhere, bathrooms, railings, doors, etc. As a health inspector I would think you know that, cruise ships that get Noro have to be thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom, because if it remains ANYWHERE on the ship, the whole ship will become contaminated very quickly.

Of there is Noro in a restaurant, it will be everywhere, on the seats, tables, counters, etc. I would venture to say that if you are in a restaurant with Noro, the odds of getting out are pretty slim and washing before and after meals, minimizing contact with surfaces woudl be the best bet (even gloves won't help if you touch anything...or any of your family members touch anything).

 

[Tiger926]

Instead of wearing gloves, you can take a small antibacterial wipe, and use it while picking up utensils. Did this while I was pregnant and at Disney for Christmas/NYE, and there was lots of viruses floating around.

Not a big deal, as wipes are small, and I've seen others using them to wipe down counters as kids spill stuff and make the area sticky.

You could also sanitize before you go up, so that's a level of protection, and then sanitize right when you return, or, wash hands.

Our trick is that hubby is the only one who goes to buffet, and he uses one hand to hold bottom of plate, and the other to touch utensils. But, as others have said, there are other ways to pick up germs besides utensils. With you being a health inspector, you would know about that.

Good luck, Tiger

 

[luvmy2babies]

I would either think you had a very compromised immune system or an infectious skin problem.

If you decide to wear them, please make sure they are latex free.

 

[n2mm]

OP here. No, don't have OCD but have had both of my children get vomiting the last day we left WDW (on two separate visits). And, I have to disagree about I would have to wear gloves all around disney (handrails, rides etc). When you are at a buffet, you are going to eat and have hand to mouth contact. This is how one usually gets the Norovirus. I am a licensed health inspector, so go to many classes on communicable diseases. Another thing, when I enter a hotel room, I bring sanitizer wipes and sanitize the doorknobs, remote etc. In the past, I have not been vigilant with making sure my children and myself wash our hands every time before we eat, but this trip I will. Why? Because after spending $4,000. on a vacation I don't want one or more of us sick with vomiting. To each his own.

PS The reason for gloves instead of sanitizer is because they say sanitizer does not kill the norovirus.

I would avoid buffets. But then again what about the people handling your meals in the kitchen of a regular restraurant. You asked if people would think your are abnormal. I think you got your answer. And you are in denial about the OCD thing. People get sick and sometimes they are on vacation and sometimes at home. Are your kids going to wear gloves at the buffets too. I think there would be more damage done to the kids if their parents embarrass them by where gloves at the buffet esp. when they are not OCD. Are you planning to eat at any counter service locations.....hmmmm, lots of folks handling your food there too.

 

[aussietravellers]

OP, just wear the gloves if it makes you feel better. You don't know any of the people at the buffet, you will never see them again so it doesn't really matter what anybody else thinks.

Personally if I saw somebody wearing gloves I would think it a little odd at the time and would wonder why on earth they would be wearing gloves as I wait for my turn at the mickey waffles, then I will not give it another thought, I'm at Disney and won't be spending the rest of my vacation thinking about the woman wearing gloves at breakfast one day .

I do however remember and talk about the woman at Macy's in NY who called 911 because the store wouldn't give her a refund That cracked me up as we wouldn't do that in Australia.

I also couldn't see wearing gloves making any difference, but that's just my view. If there is an outbreak, it will be in the food, on the utencils, on the chairs, on the door handles and if you go and may even be on the cutlery if the server has it and puts your cutlery on the table (as you would know that you can be contagious and spread it before symptoms present!), even if you wash your hands between getting food and eating, it may still be on your chair, cutlery, table.... So do whatever makes you feel best and don't worry about anybody else, you will never see them again