Immunocompromised and Buffets...

[Roobear77]

I can 100% confirm they will bring out fresh food plated for you. We were in Disney in December with my husband who is immunocompromised. We spoke to our server, who brought out one of the chefs/workers from the kitchen. My husband showed him what he wanted from the buffet and the same chef delivered the plate right to our table a few minutes later. At that time he just wanted mickey waffles and bacon, both of which were steaming hot as well as a separate container of syrup.
Our biggest concern is germs from the visitors, especially when what he wanted was on the kids buffet side, and we have seen children manhandling the food. This service really eased my mind and we were sure to tip well and thank everyone.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I have seen MANY immunocompromised folks at buffets.
2) Touching utensils that others have touched can be a potential problem, for the spreading of germs.
3) These folks simply wear a Zip-Lock-type baggie on their hands when touching the serving utensils.
4) Then, they toss the baggie away on their trip back to their table.

 

[mamabunny]

1) I have seen MANY immunocompromised folks at buffets.
2) Touching utensils that others have touched can be a potential problem, for the spreading of germs.
3) These folks simply wear a Zip-Lock-type baggie on their hands when touching the serving utensils.
4) Then, they toss the baggie away on their trip back to their table.

Rusty, you little stinker, I love you (almost) like you are one of my own , but I have to call you out on #4 in your reply...

Where would a Guest "toss away" anything at a WDW buffet? I am *not* trying to be a rabble-rouser, but I just don't remember seeing any trash cans handy to any buffet we have ever been to...

I have myself used sandwich size ziplock baggies in a pinch for gloves when dealing with germy situations; when done, I grab a bit of the plastic from the inside, and turn it "wrong side out" as I pull my hand out to keep from touching a contaminated baggie by accident.

Are there hidden trash cans, and I'm just not aware of them?

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

You will pick up a lot of germs all around Disney, especially in the lines (touching the line fences, close proximity to everyone, etc.) and on rides (touching the safety bars, ride vehicles, etc.) and there are lots of little children who don't know how to cover their mouths when sneezing and such, so you will need to come up with a plan for all of those situations, too.

I got sick at Disney once just from being a few tables away (across the aisle and down a table or two) at a table service restaurant from a child whose parents were dragging him around even though he was clearly sick. He was a toddler who had never been taught to not sneeze into the open air. (I saw the same family a day or two later during evening EMH, still dragging the child around, poor kid!) I got sick a few days later (on my last day at Disney and after my friends had left, so I slept for much of it) and was sick for a month - and I am not even immunocompromised.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Where would a Guest "toss away" anything at a WDW buffet? I am *not* trying to be a rabble-rouser, but I just don't remember seeing any trash cans handy to any buffet we have ever been to...

At most buffets, there is a small trash receptacle near the end of the line.

 

[Runnsally]

Again, thanks all for your replies. I think one important distinction is that immunocompromised is a very general term and encompasses a wide spectrum of causes/severity. I think this is reflected in the variety of opinions and suggestions in this very helpful thread.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Rusty, you little stinker, I love you (almost) like you are one of my own , but I have to call you out on #4 in your reply...

Where would a Guest "toss away" anything at a WDW buffet? I am *not* trying to be a rabble-rouser, but I just don't remember seeing any trash cans handy to any buffet we have ever been to...

I have myself used sandwich size ziplock baggies in a pinch for gloves when dealing with germy situations; when done, I grab a bit of the plastic from the inside, and turn it "wrong side out" as I pull my hand out to keep from touching a contaminated baggie by accident.

Are there hidden trash cans, and I'm just not aware of them?

I have seen trash cans in pretty much every restaurant I have dined at. If you have trash to throw away, you notice them because you are looking for them. They are there. Are they are ample as the parks? No, but they exist.

 

[mamabunny]

::::muttering to myself:::: now I need to go to WDW... I'll tell the hubby it's a "fact finding mission" and we have to try all the buffets to see if there really are trash cans...

LOL

Thanks @TheRustyScupper & @stitchlovestink !

 

[TheRustyScupper]

::::muttering to myself:::: now I need to go to WDW... I'll tell the hubby it's a "fact finding mission" and we have to try all the buffets to see if there really are trash cans...

1) You may have to visit each buffet at least twice.
2) You might miss those little cans on the first check-visit.
3) These are the size f your bathroom trashcan, not a 40-gallon garbage can.
4) Tell hubby to charge-off to cost to "Civic Responsibility".
5) Not sure if the IRS will allow the deduction, but it makes a good excuse to the family.

 

[DisneyOma]

You are missing the point!! That particular CM is the ONLY ONE touching the serving utensil!! Not every person (including the little kid who just picked his nose a minute ago) is touching the same dirty handle of that serving utensil. If the CM is the only one touching it, why would they need to change their gloves??? That doesn't make any sense. They are standing there watching over the food and putting the food on your plate for you. What are they doing that is dirtying their gloves so they need to change them between every serving???

But if the staff member is sick, or has touched something else with the gloves, etc, then the gloves are not doing the job. Wearing gloves just creates a barrier between a hand and what is being handled. Doesn't keep germs from getting on the glove. Just because the staff member is the only one touching the utensils does not mean that he hasn't touched anything else.

And if the only issue is touching the utensils, then have someone else in the party scoop the food.

 

[PlutoPony]

OP I totally get your question. Before I started chemo, my oncologist strongly recommended avoiding buffets. There have been many reports over the years of people being able to get food plated from the kitchen, if it's already prepared and waiting to be brought out to the buffet line. It's probably a YMMV situation but seems to be something Disney has accommodated in the past. Wishing you a healthy enjoyable trip!

 

[JenniBugInPink]

no they will not send out a plate. and no she cannot go and not pay either because they cannot police it to ensure she does not eat.
just like anyone who is tube fed or otherwise cannot eat they will not waive the payment requirement for buffets( esp character meals) and the family style venues.
BTW I have been immune compromised for 40 years and not once was I ever told i cannot eat from buffets.

How is the food coming from the back any safer than the food in the buffet? Is it the constant contact from the visitors? You're going to get that all around the park, so I'm not sure how avoiding serving utensils makes all that much difference? Is it the time the food is sitting there in the warmers? There is no guarantee that the food at quick service or any other restaurant hasn't been sitting out somewhere for a bit. Since Disney character breakfasts have a lot of turnover, those trays of food get switched out all the time - it's placed, emptied, replaced. It's not like the local buffet where they open to a small crowd and keep the stuff sitting there until the dinner rush.

I have CVID (I don't make any immunoglobulins, the little guys that help your immune system work). I would NEVER eat from an open buffet - all that touching, sneezing, coughing, breathing, by so many people with sketchy manners/handwashing/etc. happening over and over! I carry gloves with me by the gross, and antibacterial wipes, and masks for crowds, but if the bugs have gotten ON the food, those things would do me no good at all. That's what some of the previous posters have been trying to say, I think, is the difference between having employees dish up the food behind the scenes vs. food that's just sitting out there where people can contaminate it. Most contaminations are small, and are handled, well, handily by functioning immune system. But for those of us whose immune systems are missing pieces and parts, those contaminations can have gravely serious consequences.

I just avoid them like the plague (and WalMarts and other places that have a propensity to be touched so much by so many!). It's not worth the risk or trouble to me, but then again, I don't have a child who wants to eat somewhere that I can't (no kids period). Dietary has always been great with the few requests I have had, so get in touch with them in advance of your trip if a buffet place is important to you.

And always remember, wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands, don't touch your face! It's a mantra, like "Stay out of the d*mn lakes!"

 

[stitchlovestink]

But if the staff member is sick, or has touched something else with the gloves, etc, then the gloves are not doing the job. Wearing gloves just creates a barrier between a hand and what is being handled. Doesn't keep germs from getting on the glove. Just because the staff member is the only one touching the utensils does not mean that he hasn't touched anything else.

And if the only issue is touching the utensils, then have someone else in the party scoop the food.

Ummm I have close family members that have worked Food Service in WDW. The supervisor will not put a sick CM in contact with food!!! Mgrs can get in trouble for that! They will send home CMs who come to work sick. Depending on the illness, they may have to be cleared by a Dr at Disney before being able to return to work. I know my family has been sent home on more than one occasion. Rather than call out sick (and taking a mark on their record card) they go in and then Disney sends them home. Certain "illnesses" make a CM ineligible to go to work no matter what job they do! Btdt!

By your thought process then, they should not eat at ANY restaurant because they cannot be sure the chef or their assistant(s) have not subjected them to any germs!