Scared of stomach bug, dumping my buffets

[teacup princess]

Ok I had everything planned, now I'm thinking it might be a good idea to get rid of my buffet meals and opt for safer dining options. Here's what I had, what would you suggest we switch it to that young kids would enjoy? (we are not on the dining plan and are paying for these few meals out of pocket so we can't go too crazy on the costs). We go Jan 17-24.

1.) Tusker House breakfast -
2.) Crystal Palace breakfast -
3.) Ohana dinner - (ok not a buffet but I'm afraid of the meat skewers that will be at every other diners table)

I could switch these for a meal at Animal Kingdom, Epcot, or Magic Kingdom instead

(Other meals I already have planned include 50's Prime Time, Plaza, and Planet Hollywood)

Any suggestions?

 

[oybolshoi]

If I were you, I wouldn't cancel an ADR on the off-chance that you or someone in your party might become ill, especially if the meal is something that your kids are really looking forward to.

You'd have just as good a chance of catching a bug by mingling with the crowds in the theme parks as you would from eating food at a buffet meal.

But that's just my opinion. Have a great trip, whatever you decide.

 

[RMulieri]

I agree with pp.You have just as much chance as picking up a stomach virus in the theme parks, the restrooms,hotel lobby etc.

 

[snykymom]

You may just want to take some extra precautions at a buffet. What I plan to do:

1) If they have trays, grab a few extra napkins and line my tray with them before I get the food. Keep my plates, etc. on the tray while eating.

2) Wipe down the table & chair (the part I pull out) with my bleach wipes.

3) Wash my hands thoroughly after I get my food.

4) Wash the silverware I'll use thoroughly at the same time I wash my hands.

I think these precautions should be enough to make buffet eating safe.

 

[dawnbu40]

We just got back on the 22nd and NO ONE in our party got sick. These boards make it sound like everyone is sick at WDW and we did not find that to be the case. We ate buffets at Tusker House (lunch), Park Fair & Akerhaus (breakfast) and none of us had any problems. Go to the buffets and enjoy them!

 

[CruznLexi]

Being a nurse I always have a stash of medications I take just on the chance one of us get sicks. it has stuff for pain, nausea, diarhea, cold flu, coughing. all items are over the counter. If you have a brand that works for you you might not find it at WDW. I also carry hand wipes and I carry hand gel or spray. The best way to get an infection is hand washing. And Most of them start on the plane! I would not be afraid to go to a rest, just becasue it is a buffett or family style. You can get sick on the Haunted Mansion the same way!
Lexi

 

[Tikitoi]

I was nervous about the same thing too, which is why I didn't book and buffets for our upcoming trip. Now I feel bad, since DD wanted a couple buffets.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Thats silly....you can get sick at a non buffet place too, the cooks, the wait staff, the bus boys, the dishwashers, the hostess and all the other people in the place eating...one sneeze or cough going airborne and forget it!

 

[ntsammy5]

Wow

 

[GatorLady]

I read an article recently that said the thing with the most germs on it in a restaurant is the menu. At least you don't have those at a buffet.

 

[Aristomommy]

Being a nurse I always have a stash of medications I take just on the chance one of us get sicks. it has stuff for pain, nausea, diarhea, cold flu, coughing. all items are over the counter. If you have a brand that works for you you might not find it at WDW. I also carry hand wipes and I carry hand gel or spray. The best way to get an infection is hand washing. And Most of them start on the plane! I would not be afraid to go to a rest, just becasue it is a buffett or family style. You can get sick on the Haunted Mansion the same way!
Lexi

ITA!!! I had a horrible cold the first few days of our vacation last time. I ran out of my normal cold medicine and spent a fortune on cough drops and cough medicine at the resort. With good hand washing and common sense, no one else in my party got it and I wished I would have just brought more of the medicine that works the best for me.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with the PP, I don' think there is any need to cancel your buffet meals out of fear of getting sick. It is late in the game and you may not be able to get ADR's elsewhere.
If you insist. you could try for the Kona Cafe at the Poly instead of 'OHana. We enjoyed this a lot. Spoodles is reported to have a good breakfast as well
Have a good trip

 

[mom2aandj]

We went to tons of buffets on our prior two trips, no sickness whatsoever. Our last trip, NO buffets and we all got horrible vomitting sickness. There are no guarantees with anything!

 

[winterman]

You may just want to take some extra precautions at a buffet. What I plan to do:

1) If they have trays, grab a few extra napkins and line my tray with them before I get the food. Keep my plates, etc. on the tray while eating.

2) Wipe down the table & chair (the part I pull out) with my bleach wipes.

3) Wash my hands thoroughly after I get my food.

4) Wash the silverware I'll use thoroughly at the same time I wash my hands.

I think these precautions should be enough to make buffet eating safe.

I think people worry about eating at buffets because other diners are more likely to have breathed on the food on display or even touched it with their hands. Nothing that you mention above would protect you at all. Either relax and enjoy the buffet or skip it.

 

[WillCAD]

My recent trip to WDW was right in the middle of a massive outbreak of several different kinds of illness. In fact, at least 15 of my friends from MouseFest either got sick there or immediately after getting home; some of them had stomach symptoms that lasted 1-2 days, while others got coldlike symptoms that lasted for about 4-6 days.

But I didn't, and I ate at several buffets and at 'Ohana. ANd I'm not a germophobe, either; I don't wipe everything down with bleach or wash my hands 20 times per day or walk around with a surgical mask on my face. I wash my hands before I eat, and afterward (mostly to get the food residue off), and I wash thoroughly after each bathroom break.

The current outbreaks are not confined to WDW. There are outbreaks of both stomach flu-type and cold-type illnesses going around the entire country at the moment. I guess that's why winter is called the "cold and flu season!"

Don't panic. Don't ruin your trip and skip some of the best restaurants at WDW on the off chance that you might get sick. Take reasonable, logical precautions, leave your ADRs as they are, and enjoy your vacation without undue worry.

 

[septbaby]

Wow

 

[just another guy]

Ok, I gotta toss in my comment. At least with a buffet, you can see the food right there to your plate. I worked at NUMEROUS restaurants through high school and college. Do you have any idea how many servers at Apples Bees/Chilis don't wash their hands after bussing a table, and are then told by an expo to run food. Before leaving the kitchen, this server will use to unwashed hands to snag a fry or chip from your plate. Enjoy your table service restaurant!

Wow

I agree!

 

[the Fidge]

I have found with weak immune system that the place I catch germs the most are on the planes. Recycled air is recycled germs for me yee haw!

Anyway if you get the food right as its brought out and no snot running noses get to it you should be fine. I also use a napkin around the serving spoon handle and yes I am a germ phob so I do have wipes I run over the utensils with.

Just do things that make you feel more secure. THe funny part is I see folks putting their hands on bathroom door handles and the faucets. I never do I use napkins and my forearm to operate the handle on the paper towel dispenser.

 

[nbodyhome]

Ok, I gotta toss in my comment. At least with a buffet, you can see the food right there to your plate. I worked at NUMEROUS restaurants through high school and college. Do you have any idea how many servers at Apples Bees/Chilis don't wash their hands after bussing a table, and are then told by an expo to run food. Before leaving the kitchen, this server will use to unwashed hands to snag a fry or chip from your plate. Enjoy your table service restaurant!

Things can be unsafe anywhere - table service, counter, buffet. Fortunately we tend to go through life (most of us) not getting sick from all the germs we are in contact with.

I mentioned in another thread, I can't stand seeing CM's at Disney (or anywhere) using their gloved hands to touch food. I had a CM at the Pop Century touch her face - picking at something - with the gloved hand, then put that same hand in a bin of some sort of bread for me. I see this type of thing all the time, and it really bothers me. I'd rather see tongs used for food, and hand sanitizer for hands. Liberally, along with hand washing. I used to do store demos and changed out the gloves constantly. Not everyone did, sometimes they'd wear one set (or just a few sets) all day and even take trash with the same gloves - before putting hands on food items again. Yuck.

 

[Wendi2000]

Ok I had everything planned, now I'm thinking it might be a good idea to get rid of my buffet meals and opt for safer dining options. Here's what I had, what would you suggest we switch it to that young kids would enjoy? (we are not on the dining plan and are paying for these few meals out of pocket so we can't go too crazy on the costs). We go Jan 17-24.

1.) Tusker House breakfast -
2.) Crystal Palace breakfast -
3.) Ohana dinner - (ok not a buffet but I'm afraid of the meat skewers that will be at every other diners table)

I could switch these for a meal at Animal Kingdom, Epcot, or Magic Kingdom instead

(Other meals I already have planned include 50's Prime Time, Plaza, and Planet Hollywood)

Any suggestions?

OK, rather than harp on you for your choice... I will give you some suggestions since that is what you are asking for... looks like no one else is interested in that...

How about 'Ohana for breakfast - it is not a buffet, nothing is shared with other tables and you would still get a character meal.

Kona Cafe is a good table service for breakfast too, otherwise I would probably just do counter service at your resort for breakfast since you can do it before leaving for the parks and not interfere with park touring time. Kona is also very, very good for dinner - maybe swap that for your 'Ohana night since it is right next to 'Ohana so it wouldn't change your itinerary.

We really liked our lunch at Sci-Fi Dine-In, it was a lot of fun for Max and the food was better than I'd expected.

Yak & Yeti is very good, you might want to try that for lunch in the Animal Kingdom.

In MK, we really like Columbia Harbour House - it is quick service and it's very good.