Taking food from a buffet?

[LibrarianBecky]

I was wondering if you could tell me if taking food from the buffet is frowned upon at WDW? I know that this is really not something that is allowed to happen in the 'real' world. We have some character buffets planned, though, and I'm a little worried my son will be far to excited to eat. Would it be a problem for us to bring a piece of fruit or a muffin with us when we leave?

And, don't worry, I don't plan on filling up a plate or four and walking out the door with them.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

We've taken a banana before for our son because of the same issue. I figured we paid $16 for his meal and he ate NOTHING so the .50 banana was ok. I wouldn't take one per person or anything but I think a single piece of fruit would be fine.

 

[srauchbauer]

we have taken hard boiled eggs with us. DD wanted them so we put them on her plate and she never ate them so we asked the CM if it was okay and she brought us a little bag.

As long as you don't take a whole plate of food it should not be a problem. If it's on your plate they have to throw it away.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If you are paying to eat a buffet in WDW and want to take some extra food out I don't see a problem with that. In fact you are doing them a favor because I was told once they close all the food not eaten gets thrown out in the garbage, so taking it is a lot better then having it go to waste.

 

[carebee21]

I assume it's frowned upon. However, if you conspicuously tuck a banana or apple into your purse, I don't think anyone is going to say anything to you.

I assume you're going to get a lot of not nice responses on this thread, but honestly, we've done it. We had a morning when my son just didn't want to eat but I knew he'd be hungry later, so I tucked a banana and I think a little cereal box of something like fruit loops in my bag for him to snack on later, and another time he was jumping all of over the place, doing the parades, etc and just wouldn't eat, so again, I did the same thing.

I would just be conspicuous about it and mindful about it. Don't pack 100's of ziplocs and fill them up with cookies and muffins and breads, etc.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I dont think its frowned upon at all. When they have a basket of apples, I automatically assumed they left it there for that purpose, for ppl to take it with them once they leave. I've taken two apples, one for me and one for my son. As long as your a paying customer, it shouldnt be a problem! But if you brought tupperwear to the restaurant and started filling it up, thats a different story.

 

[glk2009]

Our DD has food allergies and we've had the chef bring out extra fruits and cookies for us to take with us, so I doubt they would frown upon someone taking an extra banana or apple or two.

 

[mom2_3girls]

Our DD has food allergies and we've had the chef bring out extra fruits and cookies for us to take with us, so I doubt they would frown upon someone taking an extra banana or apple or two.

We've had the same thing happen to us. I've even have them make too many of the gluten free mickey waffles and she had only ate 1 and they gave us a to go container for her to take them home.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

In fact you are doing them a favor because I was told once they close all the food not eaten gets thrown out in the garbage, so taking it is a lot better then having it go to waste.

Unless it is different for buffets, Disney does donate food during the week. Food on the weekend is tossed/composted.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Unless it is different for buffets, Disney does donate food during the week. Food on the weekend is tossed/composted.

A Club Level Cast Member from the Contemporary said WDW use to donate food to local food banks from the Club Level lounges and buffet restaurants. However they also said WDW stopped doing that a while ago since one person eating the donated food got sick and the food bank filled a law suit against WDW because of that.

 

[Shagley]

I agree with everyone else that taking a piece of fruit and a muffin for a child who hasn't eaten much isn't a problem at all. Now, if you were filling a gallon size zip lock bag for a picnic later, that would be frowned upon

 

[dinglefitzberry]

I think that would be fine. I think as long as within reason, nobody would even care. They want you to have a magical time.

 

[lemondog]

We have taken whole apples and bananas before for our kids. Like another pp said...we are paying $15-20 for them to eat $3 worth of food...I am not going to feel bad about taking a couple of pieces of fruit!

 

[kirrrby]

As long as you don't line your pockets/purse with plastic baggies and stuff food in them (we've seen this at WDW), it should be okay. I know that we'll usually grab a piece of fruit, or cookie just in case mine, or my fathers blood sugar drops.

 

[2binak]

In fact you are doing them a favor because I was told once they close all the food not eaten gets thrown out in the garbage, so taking it is a lot better then having it go to waste.

Food that has been served cannot be donated. Food that has been prepared but has stayed in the kitchen, wrapped & either heated or cooled to the correct temperatures can be donated. We just had a conference there and this is what we were told. We were also told how many lbs of food was donated, but I can't recall the number right now.

OP - like others have said, a piece of fruit or a muffin that didn't get eaten while at your table shouldn't be a problem.

 

[TDC Nala]

Carrying out a piece of fruit or a cookie would likely not be "frowned upon." Carrying out a full meal for later or filing up Ziplocs to put in your purse likely would be. There was a question once about someone who wanted to have a big dinner and go to the Wishes Dessert Party, they didn't think they'd be able to eat the desserts but wanted to know how many of them they could put in a baggie and take to eat later. I would think that if you want to get the most out of the dessert party, reschedule it, or reschedule the big dinner.

If you want snacks available for young kids, you can always take your own from home, or put in an order to have a grocery delivery service bring some to your resort.

 

[RAPstar]

As long as you don't line your pockets/purse with plastic baggies and stuff food in them (we've seen this at WDW), it should be okay. I know that we'll usually grab a piece of fruit, or cookie just in case mine, or my fathers blood sugar drops.

I wonder what would happen to the people if they were caught putting food in a ziploc? Could anything be done? Knowing how some people are at WDW, they probably think its their right to take food with them, lol.

 

[archdandy]

We've taken pieces of fruit from the buffets with us before. Nobody said anything to us.

 

[Senator Tressel]

I wonder what would happen to the people if they were caught putting food in a ziploc? Could anything be done? Knowing how some people are at WDW, they probably think its their right to take food with them, lol.

I'm fairly certain they wouldn't do anything even if you were filling up bags, but it would take some real chutzpah. Maybe if someone was taking plate after plate and bagging it up, they'd have to step in, but other than that, they're going to let it go.

 

[kirrrby]

I'm fairly certain they wouldn't do anything even if you were filling up bags, but it would take some real chutzpah. Maybe if someone was taking plate after plate and bagging it up, they'd have to step in, but other than that, they're going to let it go.

This is exactly what they were doing. My mom being the person she is, notified our waiter. We left before there was any action taken, so i'm not sure what happened to this family. Although the husband looked ashamed while this woman was shoveling food into the baggies.