My "I can't believe what I am seeing" moment

[Thmacs1]

My DH and I just got back from a lovely trip last night. I had to post the most bizzare thing I have ever seen happen at a Disney (or any) restaurant. We had breakfast at Boma Sat. morning fairly ealry at 8AM. We were seated promptly and greeted etc Had a nice table, nice server, overall great breakfast. The weirdness I witnessed happened on my first trip up to the buffet. I was looking at the fruit and pastries trying to make a decision when a man and a teenage girl in their pajamas walked in and right up to the buffet. They proceeded to help themselves to watermelon and cinnimon rolls serving themselves right into their hands and eating infront of the buffet. I watched with my mouth hanging open as I really could not believe what I was seeing. After another grab at some grapes they walked out of the restuarant. I didn't do or say anything I think because I was stunned by the behavior. Has anyone else seen such a thing at a Disney (or any ) restaurant?

 

[RMulieri]

OMG! I would have fallen off my chair!

 

[Donna3271]

Ugh..... just no class. How embarrassing for them.

 

[Donna3271]

Also...... if they needed a "free breakfast" that badly, perhaps they should not have been staying at AKL.

 

[TDC Nala]

Kind of astonishing that Disney is suffering from a lack of attention severe enough to allow guests to use the buffet as their personal concierge lounge, but from what I've heard while down there, most Disney restaurants are running overworked and understaffed, so maybe that's the cause.

 

[tony67]

Sort of related and one of the reason I no longer stay in concierge or club level at Disney.

One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is people eating at the buffet. Take a plate and SIT DOWN. Don't use your fingers. Thats why there are tongs.

I remember watching someone (AKL Concierge Lounge) walk up to the buffet and eat a skewer of chicken lick their fingers and then eat another standing at the buffet.

The staff does nothing. They are not going to embarrass a guest.

Also don't let you kid go to the buffet alone. I have seen kids pick things up with thier hand look at it and put it back. I have seen kids sneeze on the buffet and walk away.

I even sent an email Disney later and they never really addressed this, but they never really address any issues. How about a simple sign? How about a club lounge etiquette flyer in the welcome packet.

I have seen this at ALL the lounges I have stayed at in Disney (Poly, CR, AKL and GF).
To be fair I have also seen this at numerous club lounges in other hotel chains.

What I also find interesting is it seems to happen more at more expensive places.
The "elite" seem to think they can do whatever they want.
I see much less of this at places like Courtyard by Marriott.

 

[miprender]

Eewe... that is just plain gross.

I know my kids (at home) have a tendency to look at something, sniff it and put it back. That is why when we are at a buffett I get them their food.

 

[TDC Nala]

Sort of related and one of the reason I no longer stay in concierge or club level at Disney.

One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is people eating at the buffet. Take a plate and SIT DOWN. Don't use your fingers. Thats why there are tongs.

I remember watching someone (AKL Concierge Lounge) walk up to the buffet and eat a skewer of chicken lick their fingers and then eat another standing at the buffet.

The staff does nothing. They are not going to embarrass a guest.

Also don't let you kid go to the buffet alone. I have seen kids pick things up with thier hand look at it and put it back. I have seen kids sneeze on the buffet and walk away.

I even sent an email Disney later and they never really addressed this, but they never really address any issues. How about a simple sign? How about a club lounge etiquette flyer in the welcome packet.

I have seen this at ALL the lounges I have stayed at in Disney (Poly, CR, AKL and GF).
To be fair I have also seen this at numerous club lounges in other hotel chains.

What I also find interesting is it seems to happen more at more expensive places.
The "elite" seem to think they can do whatever they want.
I see much less of this at places like Courtyard by Marriott.

I do understand this concern but the OP is not talking about the concierge lounge - this was something observed at Boma, which is an actual restaurant. I would have imagined that enough attention was paid to keep non-paying guests from walking in and eating off the Boma buffet, especially in their pajamas. But it appears not, at least not on that day.

 

[deedeetoo]

While there is no excuse for using fingers instead of tongs at the buffet, I am thinking these are two very confused people. I doubt they were trying to steal breakfast. A lot of hotels serve breakfast buffets that are included with the room. Either that or they thought that because they had free dining that meant that the breakfast buffet in the hotel was included. I wonder how many days they will get away with this before someone stops them to ask what they are doing.

 

[Thmacs1]

I do understand this concern but the OP is not talking about the concierge lounge - this was something observed at Boma, which is an actual restaurant. I would have imagined that enough attention was paid to keep non-paying guests from walking in and eating off the Boma buffet, especially in their pajamas. But it appears not, at least not on that day.

After I had a moment to process what I had seen, I realized how easy that was for them. It was busy and crowded at the hostess stand, people were standing around waiting to be seated so the just slipped in and slipped out. I just could not believe someone would have the nerve to do such a thing.

 

[mainegal]

Maybe from a different culture?

 

[purpliequeen]

Woah... I don't want this to become a flamed, race thread. But there are guests like the op mentioned in ANY culture.

Ok... back to the main topic. While I wish that something could be done when these events occur, little can be done unless you personally want to go up to the guest and tell them to use tongs/plates/proper etiquette/etc. And no one really wants to do that. But I just wanted to post and say that this happens anywhere. I frequent buffets often- not my choice- but that's dorm life in college, and am fortunate to have never seen anyone with this type of aforementioned behavior on my campus before. But that's not to say that it doesn't happen. My school went through a severe swine incident over the past couple of weeks, and my university did a wonderful job in educating us about how to be sanitary- especially around buffets. Just PLEASE keep your eye out on your children- it's better for adults to serve their children than for the children to have free range at the buffet- and use utensils! My family is going to Disney in a few months, and we have eliminated buffets from our itinerary for the pure fact that swine/an intense flu season is out there and everyone needs to be careful of ALL germs and bacteria (not just swine). I'm not saying that buffets point to swine/flu/colds/etc., but they provide a great breeding ground for bacteria/germs, and expose you to these more than other restaurants where there are less people touching your food.

 

[RMulieri]

While I agree that you need to watch children at buffets, I have seen worse behavior at Disney Buffets By ADULTS..So much so that my 4 yr old said to the gentleman at Cape May who decided to taste the stew off the serving spoon...."EWW gross, you aren't supposed to eat off serving utensils" I was mortified, but deep down I was proud of her.I saw adults couging over the food, a women put stuff on her plate then back on the buffet, and an older gentleman pick his nose and then touch the food with his HANDS

 

[areno79]

Ugh..... just no class. How embarrassing for them.

Exactly! I hate feeling embarassed for people. Especially people who don't realize that *they* should be embarassed for themselves.

It's a shame that they don't know enough to not pick up food with their fingers. That's just nasty.

(And I second the request about kids...please don't let them go to the buffet by themselves. I'm seen some truly skeevy things)

 

[wdwluver]

The OP's story reminds me of an incident I witnessed several years ago. At the time, I worked for a non-profit membership organization. The members were clinicians - the people who do blood work tests, etc. Well, I was at a reception/banquet being given at the start of the annual meeting, and saw one of the members standing at the buffet with a fork, helping himself to the food.

He was a elderly guy, but I certainly couldn't think that he didn't know any better. I think he just didn't care.

 

[DVC Grammy]

Eeeeuuuuw! This thread has given me the final excuse NOT to do buffets! (I must admit, though, that prior to this thread, I wasn't a big fan, mainly because I'd wind up with "Thanksgiving Syndrome" !) But the possibility of encountering some of the above examples of behavior makes me and .
I know "yucky stuff" goes on in regular restaurants, but as they say.........."out of sight, etc.".............: (Or is that "Ignorance is bliss"? )

 

[Leota]

After reading this thread, I think we'll skip the buffet breakfasts we had scheduled.

 

[kevschickee]

Eeeeuuuuw! This thread has given me the final excuse NOT to do buffets! (I must admit, though, that prior to this thread, I wasn't a big fan, mainly because I'd wind up with "Thanksgiving Syndrome" !) But the possibility of encountering some of the above examples of behavior makes me and .
I know "yucky stuff" goes on in regular restaurants, but as they say.........."out of sight, etc.".............: (Or is that "Ignorance is bliss"? )

After reading this thread, I think we'll skip the buffet breakfasts we had scheduled.

Atleast you can see what is happening to the food at the buffet. Just think what might happen with your food at a TS rest that you can't see.

 

[tinkerfan1]

I'm reminded of a chapter in the Mousejunkies book called, "Mice Behaving Badly" or something like that. They tell a few stories about people misbehaving at WDW. We have certainly witnessed our fair share over the years. It always amazes us. We still have lots of fun. It is just unreal how some people can be so rude. Some of it is ignorance and some of it is arrogance. Regardless, it is rude. We actually saw a man backhand his wife and throw what we believed to be their tickets in the lake one evening. It was in front of their child. How sad and sickening. The world is a crazy place. If you can't go to WDW and have fun or be nice, then there is no hope for you.

 

[bavaria]

Maybe from a different culture?

Pardon me, but I have seen many many people in American restaurants and takeaways (not to mention shops) wearing pyjamas; in fact a few years ago my colleagues and I were discussing the apparent new fashion of doing so in places like Panera Bread, etc.

Assuming that poor behaviour must mean that they are from another 'culture' infers that there is no such behaviour in your own culture. Every country has its share of poor representatives of that nation, but while it may be the fashion on this site to ascribe those behaviours to 'foreigners', I am quite certain that many of those guests are from America, simply based on the nationality statistics of visitors to WDW.

As has been proven here before, poor behaviour is not limited to one class, one culture, or one nation.