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

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

This thread has really grossed me out. I was planning on just using hand cleaner after trips to the buffet after touching utensils. I never really thought about all those other nasty things.

We have 10 ADRS scheduled and a few of them are buffets. Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace, and Donald's breakfast. These are places my kids want to go. Ugh. Bleck. Now I'm grossed out. Oh, and Akershus - that's part buffet.

My DH already hates buffets. I better not show him this thread.

 

[aprilp]

I'm REALLY glad now that for the two buffets we are going to on our trip in December (Crystal Palace and Tusker House) we have early lunch reservations at 11:45. So hopefully the food will have just been put out at 11:30 and not that many people will have touched it. (Definitely not showing my mom this thread as she is overly-germ concious anyway!) All in all, though, I HAVE heard that the more exposure to germs the better as it enables your body to build up its immunity (unless your immune system is compromised, that is, in which case you should probably stay away from buffets at all costs!). At any rate, I'm going to go with that theory and try to be blissfully ignorant of what other ppl are doing as I get food from the buffet!

 

[lemondog]

I'm REALLY glad now that for the two buffets we are going to on our trip in December (Crystal Palace and Tusker House) we have early lunch reservations at 11:45. So hopefully the food will have just been put out at 11:30 and not that many people will have touched it. (Definitely not showing my mom this thread as she is overly-germ concious anyway!) All in all, though, I HAVE heard that the more exposure to germs the better as it enables your body to build up its immunity (unless your immune system is compromised, that is, in which case you should probably stay away from buffets at all costs!). At any rate, I'm going to go with that theory and try to be blissfully ignorant of what other ppl are doing as I get food from the buffet!

You are actually right. I have many family members in the medical field and am friends with a few doctors...the prevailing theory, in their opinions, is that your body really DOES need exposure to nastiness to build up its immune system. My family eats at buffets all the time...guess that's why we never get sick!

But seriously, I know there is going to be a certain amount of germs on buffet food, and I am okay with that. However, if I saw someone actually tasting soup from the serving ladle like a PP did, I would seriously go inform a CM immediately and tell them that they needed to switch out the entire pot. That is just WRONG! It's one thing for a kid to pick up a muffin and put it back. But a full grown adult tasting something from the serving spoon? I can't imagine what possessed him to think something like that was ok?!?!?

 

[ilovejsparrow]

That is dumbfounding. I've never seen people act like that at a buffet but I've seen people eat without utensils at a sit down restaurant. I may think it's strange but it may be perfectly normal for them. But yeah, I don't blame you for being shocked!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Wow and Ick. Those people sure had nerve to do that.

and don't get me started on the PJ thing. I see that alot when I'm running errands during the day. Grrrrrrr.

 

[RMulieri]

Wow and Ick. Those people sure had nerve to do that.

and don't get me started on the PJ thing. I see that alot when I'm running errands during the day. Grrrrrrr.

I see it too...Try my Walmart or grocery store on any morning and especially on weekends and there are people doing their shopping in PJS and slippers...Did common sense ,self respect and pride go out the window?

 

[LisaZ1113]

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

I agree!! I just got back and was APPALLED at the number of grown adults walking around coughing all over the place, and NOT covering their mouth!!
ICK.
This is why, for the most part,, no matter HOW GOOD A BUFFET IS, I just can't do it....

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I wish I had taken picutres of all the people who didnt bother to get dressed before going to the concierge for thier snacks or breakfast . PUT ON SHOES !!!!! Kids I can understand but a grown man can put on more then a pair of pj bottoms and NO SHIRT ... ICK I dont want your hairy chest leaning over my food even if you do think it is " free" food

 

[bytheblood]

Nothing is shocking these days, but it does not make it any less disgusting.

 

[MissionMouse]

Safety, security and health is the concern here. One can play a lot of what if scenarios in the absence of supervision.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I certainly don't agree with either issue of the OP's story, that they touched with bare hands and that they just strolled in.

As for the bare hands thing, what that food can be exposed to is a lot more than someone just touching it with their bare hands. There's bacteria EVERYWHERE and food is just not a sterile thing! When you talk, sneeze, yawn, cough, even if you're covering your mouth, it's still being transferred, both through the air, and when you touch anything with the hand you used to cover. Every time you move, dead skin cells are rubbed off and float through the air, a good deal of household dust is made up of dead skin.

I work in a grocery store, and our dept cuts and wraps cheese and handles the olive bar. We have to wear hats/hairnets at all times, and gloves whenever dealing with open food product, and there's signs on the olive bar that say "for food safety reasons please ask for a sample", but no matter how many safety measures they put into place, thing's are still going to get touched, and probably by someone who picks their nose or what have you.

Yes it's gross to think about but we have immune systems for a reason. Some studies say that people are developing more allergies is because they're not exposed to things and the immune system freaks out when it suddenly encounters it. Bacteria are becoming more resistant because people try to disinfect/sanitize/sterilize everything and it goes into survival mode.

Short of eating in a vacuum, something somewhere along the line has probably touched your food and if you knew about it, you'd freak out. It's an "ignorance is bliss" issue, until you see it or think about it, you never realize what's actually happening.

 

[2Tiggies]

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?

Maybe they were dressing up for the MNSSHP .... and got lost ... and confused..... amongst other things. Nowadays, I surprise myself everytime I actually get surprised by people's behaviour. I really thought I would be beyond amazement by this stage!

On the note about kids at the buffet, I do agree about supervision. My DD knows to use tongs and serving utensils and if none are available she will first ask for them - but that is how we live at home, so she doesn't know any different. (One set of manners and code of behaviour for home and everywhere - easier to remember and good for life). Still, I always go with her to the buffet in case she needs help to reach something. Anyways, some of the stuff on the buffet is hot and I woulnd't want her getting burned or anything.

 

[2Tiggies]

I wish I had taken picutres of all the people who didnt bother to get dressed before going to the concierge for thier snacks or breakfast . PUT ON SHOES !!!!! Kids I can understand but a grown man can put on more then a pair of pj bottoms and NO SHIRT ... ICK I dont want your hairy chest leaning over my food even if you do think it is " free" food

I thought all Disney restaurants and food courts had a policy about basic clothing - or is it only the "nicer" ones?

 

[TDC Nala]

I thought all Disney restaurants and food courts had a policy about basic clothing - or is it only the "nicer" ones?

Concierge lounges do not have dress codes. And the people the OP is talking about were not paying customers at Boma, they sneaked in while no one was looking and took food from the buffet. I suppose it's possible that Boma might have denied them seating if they showed up to legitimately eat there in their pajamas, but that isn't what they were up to.

 

[MinnieTink]

Wow. My eyes bugged out of my head so many times reading this thread.

My DH is a total germophobe and buffetophobe(haha) so we already stay away from those places. Poor thing would need a Xanax if he read this thread. There's a big difference from realizing that your food is 'not sterile' and seeing a butt-scratcher handling the food you were about to help yourself to. Gag!!

 

[Cee]

This thread has given me several moments, but quite a few moments as well. Thanks, everyone!

 

[aprilp]

A local radio station has a segment every once in a while that I heard this morning...they get the reporter from a local CBS channel to come in and tell them about the local restaurants who get low scores by the food/restaurant inspectors and what happens when he goes there with cameras to confront them about their low scores. You would be surprised...even some of the high end restaurants have been on the list for crazy gross things. This morning they were talking about a place that had some sort of vent over the cooking area that was dripping grease into the food, and another where they used dishes that still had old food on it to serve new food (among other things, oh and btw this restaurant got a 39!!). I've heard about meat being kept at unsafe temperatures, roaches scurrying around on the floor, employees not washing their hands when handling cooked food after handling raw meat, employees sneezing onto the food....the list goes on and on. So its not just buffets its everywhere!