With flu season coming up, anyone else avoid buffets?

[disneypolybride2008]

I prefer buffets b/c of the wider selection of food. I do try to schedule them on the early side so not as many people will have been around the food. At first i had us booked for character breakfasts at opening but then figured hey it's vacation, i dont want to get up so early! Compromising with myself we have them about an hour after they start. However, we are good about not eating with our hands, since they touched those icky spoons. I think the ickiest place to end up getting sick would be from all the hand rails in the ride ques. That is soooo gross and everyone i observe touches them, kids have their mouths on them, so just doing that makes me feel better. I wouldnt want to miss out on the great food at Disney. Even having the waitress bring out your food has the air in the restaurant going past it/on it the whole way to you, waitress is breathing right by it, etc. I'm just going to try to keep my immune system up by eating super healthy, resting and getting excercise before my trip. Oh and the rooms they all pack you in for the que for the rides lets you pass germs to everyone. You can get sick just by breathing the germ. Well, good luck to everyone staying healthy, but dont skip the buffets.

 

[Tink888]

JMO - but I wouldn't avoid buffets because of the possibility of catching something, particularly the flu. Your chances of catching it anywhere else in the restaurants, parks, rides, crowded buses, the plane - heck even at home before you leave - are just as likely. Wash your hands frequently, keep your hands away from your face, eat where you want and don't worry about it. Just enjoy your vaction.

 

[tortoni]

Just my humble opinion, but I avoid buffets because I'd rather sit and socialize with my family than be running up and down to pick up food. My husband always avoids them because he does not like the germ aspect and also feels the food is not as tasty as the restaurants where each meal is prepared. After reading all these comments about how people behave, now I have another reason to avoid buffets!

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

When we go in Dec. we always seem to schedule a few buffets, and yes I worry about flu season, I have a child with a seizure disorder, so flu worries me. But we have taught her to use anitbacterial hand gel all the time. She is so funny about it, that if she goes to Golden Corral, each trip up to the bar, she gels her hands. She doesn't like to get sick so she is more than willing to participate in this practice. Just call us the Germophob Family!!!!

 

[thelionqueen]

Me and my family have eaten at buffets each and every trip to WDW & DL. At least 2 each trip and have never been sick.

ITA with a previous poster about building up your immunity and another poster who says if you're constantly worrying about it, it's more likely to happen.

I LOVE not having to wait, having to order, having to wait, etc. I like getting my food when I'm hungry, and I love the selection of buffets. I like TS's too, but when I'm really hungry and want a great experience with characters, buffets rule!

 

[michellejed]

On our last trip we were at CP and this young child about 7 helped himself to some salad and then ate off the spoon I guess he couldnt wait!

I got a CM and they removed the bowl.

I think this happens more then we would like to think both IN the kitchen and out.

 

[ElizabethB]

Buffets are notorious for getting people sick with Norovirus. Why? Because people go to the bathroom and don't wash their hands. They handle the buffet utensils. Then, you come along and touch the buffet utensils. You don't wash your hands again between leaving the buffet and sitting down to eat your food. So, whatever you pick up from the buffet utensils essentially comes very close to your mouth -- or you eat the roll, for example, and the Norovirus germs move straight from your mouth to the roll and down your throat.

That's why:

1) Cruise lines immediately suspend all buffet service when there is a Norovirus outbreak on board ship. They immediately switch to gloved employees dishing up the food for everyone.

2) Buffets are more troubling than simply touching where other people have touched on handrails, rides, etc. You can usually refrain (at least I try) from touching your mouth after touching handrails and other places others have touched. But, when you leave a buffet line and start eating, you are most definitely touching your mouth -- either with your hand, or with food that your hand has touched.

On cruises we've been on recently, employees spray everyone's hands with sanitizer before they are allowed to enter the buffet area to try to counteract the problem that people don't wash their hands after using the bathroom and the buffet is the most problematic area on the ship for spreading the virus.

 

[Freyja]

We will be eating at many buffets. But then again, I´m not a germaphobe, I have no idea what lysol is (keep reading about it on these boards), have never ever sanitized anything in my home, and can´t imagine I would ever caryr Purell. We´re all very healthy though and my kids have only been to the doctors office once this year!

 

[properlywarnedyebe]

We are eating at least one buffet everyday. I have no fear of the buffets, I was worried about us getting sick from the temperature change from where we live going to Florida & back & just getting sick from the plane flights in general. It seems more likely to get sick from a Plane than anything else in Disney. Plus, we are all getting Flu shots. Worrying & stress weaken the immune system. I just want to enjoy our vacation.

 

[MEM]

When we stayed Concierge at AKv's Kids were doing this at the food section. What's up with the Parents these days? I get the flu shot. I will go get it next week, Hubby already has. We have a trip to Europe on 11/1, so we are not going to Disney until next May. I always walked my kids through the Buffet lines.

We stayed Concierge at AKV in August and I was one of "those" parents who aren't afraid to correct other peoples' kids (in addition to my own) if I see them do something inappropriate in the food line. You know, "you touch it, you own it" kind of thing. But as other posters have said, its adults as well as kids.

 

[GoodFairies]

Well are you talking about influenza or norovirus? Because there seems to be a lot of misconceptions in some of the replies on this thread. As others have stated, influenza doesn't need to be ingested; it is airborne, so a buffet has absolutely zip zero nada influence in whether you get the flu or not. Also, antibacterial gel, wipes, whatever, will not help against viruses. That is why they are called ANTIBACTERIAL instead of ANTIVIRAL.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

that's interesting about the cruise line. I dont eat the rolls w/ my hand i actually eat it with a fork to avoid germs and we sanitize after getting back from the buffet lines each time.

 

[Ted C]

Like I posted on the "Food Poison thread, just go wash your hands AFTER you go through the line. This includes going through the line a second time. This GREATLY reduces the spread of contaminates derived from shared utensils. It makes a lot of sense if you think about it. People eat with their fingers then go back and handle the spoons. There is your direct link (cross contamination point). Washing after each visit nips it in the bud. Of course the airborne pathogens have everything to do with YOUR body's defense systems. Beware of some of those wipes. They actually promote bacterial growth. A good washing is much better...

It's a quick trip to the restroom and a small price to pay not to potentially get your vacation ruined I always do it...

Ted.

 

[ptrbryant]

Well are you talking about influenza or norovirus? Because there seems to be a lot of misconceptions in some of the replies on this thread. As others have stated, influenza doesn't need to be ingested; it is airborne, so a buffet has absolutely zip zero nada influence in whether you get the flu or not. Also, antibacterial gel, wipes, whatever, will not help against viruses. That is why they are called ANTIBACTERIAL instead of ANTIVIRAL.

Sorry, but if someone has the flu and coughs or sneezes on food/utensils, the virus can remain alive on a surface for several hours (as per a friend who's a well-respected infectious disease specialist.)

Also, I just wanted to note that I'm not fretting or agonizing over this. I simply noticed I hadn't booked any buffets and when I thought about it, during a season when so many things are going around, thought it's fine to leave the ADRs as they are. I didn't mean it as A Big Deal...just wondered if it had crossed anyone else's mind.

 

[GoodFairies]

Sorry, but if someone has the flu and coughs or sneezes on food/utensils, the virus can remain alive on a surface for several hours (as per a friend who's a well-respected infectious disease specialist.)

No offense...but duh! And if you are walking around a park and someone sneezes next to you you can catch it. Or from the rails in the queue. Or from the restraints on the coaster. Or when you get change at store on Main Street. It is simply silly to pin this to a buffet. Period. You don't need to be an infectious disease specialist to know this.

 

[bdcp]

We get a flu shot for the real flu every year. Already had mine and DH gets his next week. If by "flu" you mean a stomach virus, that is not the flu and you can get it anytime anywhere. The flu is achy, fever, coughing, not gastrointestinal.

For any "bug" buffets are the least of your worries. The real problem is EVERYWHERE else you go.

We're going on our fourth cruise before we get to WDW and we have NEVER been sick on any vacation.

Washing your hands helps, but others don't necessarily wash theirs. I'm exposed to more at work every day than I am on vacation and I NEVER get sick because I don't sanitize every surface. I have a great immune system because I don't actively avoid everything. Our kids (adults now and rarely sick) are also very healthy because we never wiped down every surface they touched. OCD is a problem.

Wash your own hands and go about your lives.

 

[SunnieRN]

Honestly, during flu season, money and confined spaces are the greatest offenders. There are very few ways to avoid either at an amusement park.

 

[Chedstro]

bdcp - thank you for your complete and concise information

 

[ptrbryant]

No offense...but duh! And if you are walking around a park and someone sneezes next to you you can catch it. Or from the rails in the queue. Or from the restraints on the coaster. Or when you get change at store on Main Street. It is simply silly to pin this to a buffet. Period. You don't need to be an infectious disease specialist to know this.

Sorry, I was referring back to your post when you stated that buffets had "zip zero nada" influence on whether or not you could catch influenza. I don't know where in this thread people got the idea that I thought buffets were the ONLY way to catch something...never thought it, never said it.

And, really, there's no need to adopt that tone on these boards.

 

[twinklebug]

If you want to avoid any germs being coughed/sneezed into the buffet food (OK, that's gross now that I think about it... ) I'd make my ADRs for as early in the AM as possible, or for the first seating for when they put out the new food.

Realize of course, the flu makes you feel like you've been hit by a bus. Everything else are common cold viruses that you're just as likely to get from sharing the same office space or sending your kids off to school. My kids and I had the flu last February. No stomach bit, no runs - just incredibly ... well... wiped out and every move and thought hurt... We stayed in for the most part but did venture out for fireworks, tylenol, etc (never send a 10 y/o off to pick up something from the store with a room charge and expect him to come back with *just* that item)

I agree no need to go overboard, but if there are sick people coughing into the buffet food I'd say something and have the CMs remove the dishes.