Norwalk virus & buffets

[WDWorld2003]

I'm trying not to be paranoid but I've been reading some posts regarding the Norwalk virus going around at WDW. We will be there in less than two weeks. Does Disney do anything at the buffets such providing disposable gloves when going through the line at buffets to help prevent the spread of this very contagious virus? I know you touch things everywhere but a buffet is probably the worst when you touch the serving utensils then eat a roll or wipe your mouth with your napkin. I've had this virus and I don't want it again!

We have a few scheduled (Chef Mickey's, Boma's and Cape May) and now I'm starting to rethink those choices.

 

[oybolshoi]

I'm not aware of any special precautions that are taken at WDW to prevent the spread of anything like Norwalk. I do know that on Disney Cruise line they typically pass out hand sanitizer to passengers prior to their entry to the restaurants (at least they did the last time we cruised with them).

Germiness is the primary reason that my hubby and I typically avoid buffets at all costs while at WDW. We usually limit ourselves to one but that's no hardship since we don't really like buffets very much to begin with.

If I were you I wouldn't cancel your ADRs on the off chance that you or someone in your party might catch something. There are always bugs circulating at WDW and even if you avoid a buffet you still could catch something. Just have fun and try not to touch too much!

 

[notsogoofy]

I had said this in another forum, but I wanted to chime in here, too. From what Ive read, soaps and alcohol-type cleaners are inneffective to Norwalk. You must use clorinated cleansers. Bleach, bleach, bleach..or take a dip in the pool!

 

[oybolshoi]

I had said this in another forum, but I wanted to chime in here, too. From what Ive read, soaps and alcohol-type cleaners are inneffective to Norwalk. You must use clorinated cleansers. Bleach, bleach, bleach..or take a dip in the pool!

Even the pool scares us sometimes!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I too posted this on another forum, but I think it is worth repeating.

When you go to dinner you often go and wash your hands before you eat. But, at a buffet, you get your plate of food and then sit down and eat having touched all those serving spoons all the guests before you have touched. Then you eat a roll, or something else with your hands and you are putting those germs right in your mouth. We used the antibacterial hand sanatizers before we ate (after getting our food) and did not get sick. I cannot comment on Norwalk as I do not know anything about it.

 

[Gitts2008]

I am with OP. We are going 2/28-3/7 and I have "double" booked our Character meals, for every buffet, I booked a sit down also. Just in case we still feel that the buffets are a suspect in the illnesses. I played it off with DD that it would be better to see the characters in parks. So it will take more effort to track character, but it is well worth it.

It is horrifying how many people do not wash their hands before eating. DD is 7 and is my pet peeve when she touches "things" and than puts her hands in her mouth. I am not a OCD, but hand washing is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of illneses.

 

[TDC Nala]

I was in a restroom at AKL on Monday (putting mascara on, dont' ask) and there was a mother and very small daughter in a stall. When they emerged, the daughter went to the sink to wash and the mother said "You don't need to do that, come on," and off they went.

I hope they had some wipes or hand sanitizer or something.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

We live with hand santizer in our belt packs and use it after every single ride and make sure we do not put our hands near our mouth. If we need to for some reason (lip gloss or eating), we sanitize first. Sounds extreme, but 'touch wood' we rarely get ill on vacation!

 

[Alesia]

I am with OP. We are going 2/28-3/7 and I have "double" booked our Character meals, for every buffet, I booked a sit down also. Just in case we still feel that the buffets are a suspect in the illnesses. I played it off with DD that it would be better to see the characters in parks. So it will take more effort to track character, but it is well worth it.

It is horrifying how many people do not wash their hands before eating. DD is 7 and is my pet peeve when she touches "things" and than puts her hands in her mouth. I am not a OCD, but hand washing is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of illneses.

Be careful. There have recently been reports of Disney canceling double booked reservations.

 

[RMulieri]

nothing is done really at any buffets.Disney hopes as do other restaurants ,that people use common sense I tell all my patients to avoid buffets especially during the winter months.Hand sanitizers are useless to kill noro viruses.You need to wash your hands,use friction, and wash for the amount of time it takes to sing the ABC song in your head.

 

[Mike2023]

I am with OP. We are going 2/28-3/7 and I have "double" booked our Character meals, for every buffet, I booked a sit down also. Just in case we still feel that the buffets are a suspect in the illnesses. I played it off with DD that it would be better to see the characters in parks. So it will take more effort to track character, but it is well worth it.

It is horrifying how many people do not wash their hands before eating. DD is 7 and is my pet peeve when she touches "things" and than puts her hands in her mouth. I am not a OCD, but hand washing is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of illneses.

I understand why you "double" booked your meals, but don't you feel bad that you could possibly be preventing another family from getting the booking there looking for?

I would think about what risks your willing to take when it comes to the buffets and make a decision instead of possibly making the decision for another family.

Hope everyone has a great trip, take your vitamins.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

As this virus is as often passed on door handles as food or air then it seems to me that the rides will be as dangerous as any food area. Like everything else it is part down to cleanliness and part down to luck who will catch it.

 

[delmar411]

you might want to think about taking some wet clorox wipes and having just one person getting the food. Then they can scrub their hands with the clorox wipes and then go wash their hands. Slighty time consuming but better than that virus!

 

[Tiger926]

you might want to think about taking some wet clorox wipes and having just one person getting the food. Then they can scrub their hands with the clorox wipes and then go wash their hands. Slighty time consuming but better than that virus!

This is exactly what we do, but we usually wash hands as that is even better than just wipes. What we've also done is used the wipe to wrap around utensil, also we don't set plates on countertops either. No need for small children to be at buffet stations either - hubby washes hands, then goes to buffet, sets food down on table and goes to wash hands, and comes back to do the same thing. It's a great system!

Healthy trips for all, Tiger

 

[nascarcheshirecat]

I am with OP. We are going 2/28-3/7 and I have "double" booked our Character meals, for every buffet, I booked a sit down also. Just in case we still feel that the buffets are a suspect in the illnesses. I played it off with DD that it would be better to see the characters in parks. So it will take more effort to track character, but it is well worth it.

you opened a can of worms, just so you know.

 

[Doctor P]

Alcohol-based hand cleaners ARE effective against norovirus and are among the employee precautions/patient precautions recommended by most public health departments.

 

[BradyBz12]

We live with hand santizer in our belt packs and use it after every single ride

Ditto! When we're on vacation we also try not to hold onto railings (that takes some conscious effort at WDW) and are even silly enough to push open doors with our arms and not our hands. And hand washing before EVERY meal - no exceptions. This trip I kept hand sanitizer in my bag too, and we used it frequently. I also swear by AirBorne and take it every morning when we're away, just as a precaution.

We just got back from 3 weeks at WDW - only 2 buffets (both at Trail's End) and no sick days. I got a little sore throat for a few days and stepped up the AirBorne and it never amounted to anything.

Anytime you're someplace with that many people from that many different places, viruses and bacteria are EVERYWHERE and super easy to catch. All you can really do is use good hygiene, cross your fingers and hope for the best!

 

[brytorlyn]

We returned on the 17th and no one in our party got sick. We were careful ie. hand washing, sanitizing, generally paranoid germophobia tactics etc.

Just a comment though. While at Chef Mickey's I saw a kid, about 10, DIP HIS FINGER IN ALL THE SALAD DRESSINGS AND TASTE THEM!!!!!

No salads for us for the rest of the trip!

 

[brytorlyn]

BTW OP we also ate at those three buffets, Chef Mickey's, Boma and Cape May.

 

[mom2aandj]

we had two prior trips where we ate at multiple buffets and didn't get sick. Our last trip we had no buffetts, but all of us got horribly, horribly sick with vomitting. So avoiding the buffets won't guarantee you won't get sick.