Taking Food from the Buffet

[DixieBelle]

Okay, this is a confession. I like buffets. We usually eat at buffets for half of our sitdown meals on vacation, sometimes more. We almost always have something in our hands, not purses, when we leave. No one has ever said anything about it. Servers have offered to go cups, especially for the sweetpeas.
IMHO, rudeness depends on degree. OP, if you want a bearclaw or banana to munch as you walk, don't feel guilty. Just don't put a bakers dozen of bearclaws in your bag and you will be fine!

 

[aripantaloon]

In general, no, you shouldn't take anything from the buffet. Doesn't matter if someone was sick or too excited to eat. They are buffet style for a reason.

However, if you take a banana (one total; not one for each person in your 10 person party, for example) I don't think a CM would stop you.

 

[North of Mouse]

As long as he ate the shrimp at the table and didn't fill up bags to take with him then yes it is fine. They're likely ready for the once in awhile customer who eats just one item and loads of it. But if the majority of guests asked for all the shrimp off the skewers all at once, and ate those and nothing else, likely shrimp would come off the menu at some point - or the price would go up.

I'm kind of reminded of the Simpsons episode where Homer sued the local seafood buffet because they didn't have "all he could eat" - he ate so much that they ran out of food.

I don't think eating is permitted on the monorail, I know it's not permitted on the buses.

rabbitroger did not say to eat ON the monorail, merely to eat in route TO the monorail

 

[DEA]

I have been encouraged at the Tusker House by the CMs there to "Make sure you take some cookies with you! And an apple!" The CM even went so far as to go and get a couple of apples for my DDs when I said I thought we were fine.

It was one of my favorite moments of that trip, just because the CMs were being incredibly hospitable and really darn nice.

The faster people leave the table, the more people they can run through the restaurant, so sending people out into the world 10 minutes sooner with an ice cream cone or piece of fruit and getting an extra x number of people through the restaurant is probably well worth the cost of the ice cream or banana to Disney.

 

[minpin3]

I agree...a piece of fruit, pastry, cookies is acceptable. I had a girlfriend take ziploc bags into a buffet once as I was mortified!!

 

[gogo]

We ate at Cape May Buffet for dinner in January. It was our first time eating at the seafood buffet and it was pretty good btw. I tried a little dessert after dinner but I was so full, I couldn't eat much of it. However, the chocolate covered oreos were fantastic. I really wanted to take one or two with me for later but because it was for later and not to eat as I was leaving, I decided not to do it.

So, eating something on the way out or shortly thereafter seems okay to me the fact that I was full and wanted it for later was the deciding factor not to do it. But, boy I was tempted. They were soooo good

 

[Kelblum]

I don't think it is a problem taking a piece of fruit or a cookie for the road, but we have friends who do take multiple ziplocks and stuff them full so they can skip lunch and snacks throughout the day. They always ask if we want one and I just cringe!

 

[TheRealDrDisney]

I'm kind of reminded of the Simpsons episode where Homer sued the local seafood buffet because they didn't have "all he could eat" - he ate so much that they ran out of food.

I love that episode!

Lawyer: Mrs. Simpson, where did you go when you left the restaurant?
Marge: We went fishing...
Lawyer (to jury): I ask you, is that the actions of a man who has had "all he can eat?"

 

[Hollymom1229]

I don't see a problem with taking one small portable item with you when you leave a buffet. I've even had CMs encourage me to bring with me the last cookie on my plate at a buffet when I got full before I could finish it. Anything beyond that is pretty rude.

 

[Don Disney]

We have a bad habit of taking a couple of cookies,or a piece of fruit now and then. No one has said anything to us.

 

[alicia080979]

I find that I end up "taking something for the road" so to speak at a breakfast buffet over a dinner. DH loves breakfast whereas I am not a big breakfast/early morning eater so I have often had just a small plate with a few bites of egg, piece of bacon, couple bites of fruit and then take a muffin or banana to eat in a couple hours when I feel like eating. I am guilty though of always having ziplock bags with us (whether it is to stuff DH's wallet in if it rains or the dessert that comes with the CS meals that I can never eat) so I will usually put my muffin in that to eat later. I say just use common courtesy...if it is just a little something that was already on your plate or to eat shortly after I personally see no problem with it.

 

[CliveO]

Normally when you eat the buffet you do it while you are there until you are full. It's really not proper to load your pockets with extras for later!

 

[Amyhoff]

I always grab something extra for my bag. Usually a piece of fruit because I don't like my kid eating too many cookies, etc. The last time we were at Disney, I was guilty of grabbing an extra soy milk from the buffet for my bag. It just made things so much easier than having to search multiple counters for soy milk..

 

[sharadoc]

We also have been encouraged by servers to take fruit, cookies and drinks to go. We have taken them a few times, but only one per person. I would not have done it without the encouragement of the server, so I say no problem taking that snack out in your hand.

 

[DaisyMaisie]

The simple solution is you ask the server. If they say it is okay than it is, and vice versa.

 

[dknytech]

I will admit that I have taken a banana for my DD (2) and left it on the table on prupose while having breakfast at Chef Mickey’s. Then when we were leaving I asked the server if it is okay if I take it with us for her and of course she said "yes" as it is on the table and they would have to throw it out if I don't take it, but beyond that I would not take anything else.

 

[djm99]

I am 'guilty' of the policy "If it’s on my plate - take it with you". Now, purposely getting a whole new plate just to 'take it' isn't what I’m talking about, but I have found myself taking whatever was on ALL of our plates in a Ziploc. What's funny, I don't do that at home-only at Disney. Um, I didn't even think about it, until I read this thread.

Last thing, if you have food on your plate - would it be 'better' in the trash, or saved for later. I NEVER get my monies worth at Disney buffets. Like many of us, I often indulge in many treats at Disney (all day long); by Dinner (only buffets we've done) I'm not that hungry. I'll taste a bit here and there. My DH is a lot more discipline than me so he likely eats enough for the both of us.