special requests at buffets?

[MadisonMike]

I was wondering if this should be in disabilites or restrauants but i went with here. if should be moved, a mod can do so.

We are going to be at WDW in a week. We have gone to WDW for 3 straight yrs until mid 2006 when my dad diagnosed with cancer. we had to skip 2007 as he had just had stem cell transplant. we went again in 2008 for a week again but skipped 2009. The question I have is regarding buffet style restaurants. last time we were cautious and didnt go to any, but that really takes away from some of the places I would like to try like Cape May Clambake and such. We are really careful with him around open food where people all take from same containers just to be sure he doesnt get any infections. Example: we go to a football tailgate, we take food out for him before anyone else gets any. Does that make sense?

So the question i have: if we were to go to a buffet, would it be possible to ask if someone could make a plate for him from in the kitchen from the containers that they bring out to refill?? I know this sounds all uber weird and i do think my mom is overreacting a bit to keeping him from getting sick, but do you think that may be possible??

thanks

 

[kaytieeldr]

Your mom may or may not be overreacting; it's probably an issue they both want to discuss with your dad's doctor.

You can certainly ask for a premade plate, but it seems more reasonable for - especially if she's concerned about germs on the serving pieces - someone in your party to make up your dad's plates with him there.

 

[hildarumpole]

They do that sort of thing for people with food allergies, so I don't see why they wouldn't be able to accomodate your dad. I'm healthy, but often get worried about catching something when I see some people and their behavior at buffet lines, like the kid who had his finger up his nose while walking to the buffet line at Chef Mickey, and then proceeded to touch half the rolls and stick his hand in the mixed fruit bowl rather than use the serving spoon. No rolls and fruit salad for me that day! If it makes your mom feel better, by all means, make the request for special plates. No sense in having her vacation upset by worrying about something that can be easily accomodated. Just mention it to your server.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would agree with kaytieeldr that they should contact his doctors to discuss it.
As an RN, my assessment is that they are probably over reacting - at the time he had his stem cell transplant, it may have been warranted. But 2 years later, is a different story. Still, if they are worried, they should talk to the doctor.
I don't think the restaurant would agree to dish him up a plate before bringing things out for the simple reason that they are constantly replenishing things. If all items on the buffet were replaced at the same time, it might work. With things being brought out in batches as different foods need to be replenished, I don't see a way to make it happen. No harm in asking the server, but it may not be a request they can accommodate. Or they may accommodate it, but he will have a lesser selection of foods.

Another suggestion to go with the one kaytieeldr made, would be for him to serve himself at the buffet. Then use hand sanitizer at the table to clean his hands before touching his fork/knife/spoon and starting to eat. This is most important because the most likely place top pick up germs would be the serving utensils. If he cleans those germs off before touching his own knife/fork/spoon, there will be no germs left to get into his mouth.

When choosing things from the buffet, avoid things from the children's menu area (things like chicken fingers, mac & cheese, pizza) because there is more of a chance of kids not using the serving utensils. For things like rolls or bread, choose the ones that are farther away from the front and use the tongs to pick one out.
The rest of these suggestions are really overkill, but they are common sense things that might make your mom and dad feel more comfortable:
For the hot dishes, choose from the dishes that have the most left (meaning the least people have served themselves from that dish). In most cases, there is a portion of the dish at one side or the back where no one has served from at all. By going for those portions, he will be serving himself from a 'fresh' portion that no one else has served themselves from yet.
Because the foods are being constantly replaced, if he sees something he would like, but the container is almost empty, he should be able to get some on his next trip to the buffet.

 

[hildarumpole]

We were able to get regular buffet items specially plated by the chefs in the kitchen for my food allergic kids at buffets. People frequently mix up the serving utensils, so cross-contamination can be a problem. The chefs took the kids around the buffet line, asked what they wanted, and got it for them from the kitchen. Obviously, they couldn't have anything that contained the foods they're allergic to, but everything else was available to them. The chefs at Cape May and Chef Mickey even came to our table a couple times during the meal to ask if the kids wanted more.

As PPs mentioned, your mother may be overreacting and talking to the doctor may help, so your dad can eat off a buffet without worries. On the other hand, if your mom can't let go of her concerns about your dad's health before your trip or the dr. agrees he needs to be careful, don't be afraid to ask for a little special service at the buffets. Disney chefs are very helpful in dealing with food concerns.

 

[MadisonMike]

great advice! thanks everyone. you all just helped confirmed things i have thought. im sure we will be fine. my mom just worries but i try to tell her there isnt much need to be worried about the food at buffets. and as for hand sanitizer, i should own stock in purell!!

as a side note, I LOVE how Disney takes care of their guests with special needs. Granted my dad just has cancer and cant really walk so uses a ECV, i see others in the park. I especially like it at the busses when they load my dad up first and someone always gets upset about waiting to get on bus and teh drivers "politley" tell them tough ..hehe
Thats why we like to go there. When you get to Disney, you arent sick, well, old, young etc.

 

[brenalexacamp]

When we were at the Crystal Palace, I thought for sure we could get a dish of pasta and marinara sauce- no, none on the buffet, only mac and cheese. I asked and the chef brought it out to us and was so happy to accomodate us. He showed us a picture of his child with down syndrome too!