Wondering 00 was anyone else advised to avoid buffets?

[Anonomom]

Hey all,

I'll be 18 weeks pregnant when we visit WDW in about 10 days. When I told my OB we were going, she told me to avoid going to any buffets. She's worried about Listeria, the same bug that's responsible for pregnant women being told to avoid lunch meats.

Now, I'm as paranoid as the next girl, and I usually try to follow instructions to the letter. I'll be skipping every ride with a pregnancy warning on it, and I haven't eaten a deli sandwich since May. But even to me, the buffet restriction seems extreme. But maybe I'm just mad because I already made reservations for two character buffets for DD, and I'd hate to have to skip them.

Anyway, I'm just wondering if any of you other preggos have been given similar instructions.

 

[Laura]

I haven't been told to do that.

 

[PEANUT1]

That seems a little paranoid to me. I think you will be fine to eat at buffets.

 

[shocker]

I too skipped hot dogs but not buffets. Guess that's why I joined a gym during the second pregnancy.

 

[luvpooh]

I've never heard that but it does make sense if you think about it. When they have the norovirus outbreaks on cruises they stop letting people serve themselves at the buffet because it spreads contamination.
I have seen some not so sanitary displays at buffets by children and adults alike. I try not to think about stuff like that otherwise I'd probably wind up in a bubble somewhere!

 

[Picabo]

I think at Disney, you're probably very safe doing buffets. I can't imagine the food sits around long enough to get spoiled.

Biggest things to avoid (as you probably already know) are lunch meats, non-pasturized cheeses like feta, hot dogs, fish with high mercury content..... I've been to non-Disney buffets while pregnant and was just careful about not picking those types of items.

I say ENJOY yourself!

 

[Tiger926]

Yup, was told to avoid buffets, lunch meat, fish and a few other things, but I already knew about all of them. We here in Canada are under a huge, and I mean huge Maple Leaf foods recall in regards to Listeria. People have died and many are ill in hospital - so far, there are several pregnant women.

You need to be extra careful with what goes into your body while pregnant, and buffets aren't the greatest in regards to viruses from other people touching spoons, foods sitting out too long, or, foods being re-used. Do I think Disney would take this chance? Not sure, but since I come from a restaurant family, I can assure you it happens in very expensive restaurants too.

I went to WDW while pregnant, after getting the ok from my OB and I avoided most if not all buffets. I didn't eat much as I had clinical nausea for 12 months (moment of conception until 3 months after - for both babies), but the little I ate was stuff that wouldn't be an issue, such as soups, fresh breads and fruit. I ate no deli meats, cheeses, cream based sauces, etc.

Good luck and a healthy pregnancy to you, Tiger

 

[BuzzBiteyear]

Even if you would decide to avoid the buffets, I believe given the circumstances, you could still dine at the character buffets. Pretty sure that you could advise the server of your OB's advice, and have the chef prepare your meal, instead of visiting the buffet. That way your DD would still be able to take in the character meal.

 

[Tricia1972]

I went to Disney three times when I was pregnant with my last (Delivered him April 22, 2008) I did not hear of any buffet restrictions in general, I just avoided my 1,000 no-no foods on the buffets.

It's up to you. I had my 1,000 no-no foods listed on all of my ADR's and the chefs (even at buffets) came out and discussed the buffet/menu with me. I think that so long as you note your restrictions on the reservation you'll be fine. (Obviously don't list no-buffets on your Crystal Palace reservation, but note no lunch meats, no unpasteurized cheeses, no shell fish, no undercooked eggs and on and on and on)

Have fun! I did Disney at 10, 14 and 34 weeks pregnant - it was great each time!!

 

[love__goofy]

When my mother-in-law was going through chemo, they told her to avoid all buffets because her immune system was down. So I guess there is a higher risk of getting a virus from a buffet.

I would just ask the waiter/waitress to bring you something from the back and explain your situation. I can't imagine they would mind, if they do just have a snack on hand and eat afterwards. I definitely would not skip the character meals.

Good luck, and enjoy Disney!

 

[tiggr33]

When they have the norovirus outbreaks on cruises they stop letting people serve themselves at the buffet because it spreads contamination.

On cruise ships it is much more common (actually the #1 reason) to get norovirus from touching handrails on gangplanks and common areas. Since they cannot force you to wash yoru hands before your meal and many have touched handrails before entering a dining room, they take the option of touching anything communial away from you.

 

[leanan]

I have not been told to avoid buffets. You are going during free dinning time when everything is booked up so no food will be sitting for long periods of time.

I do feel scared about other people's hygiene and their touching those tools so I will personally bring hand sanitizer with me to the buffet.

 

[daisy112878]

When my mother-in-law was going through chemo, they told her to avoid all buffets because her immune system was down. So I guess there is a higher risk of getting a virus from a buffet.

I would just ask the waiter/waitress to bring you something from the back and explain your situation. I can't imagine they would mind, if they do just have a snack on hand and eat afterwards. I definitely would not skip the character meals.

Good luck, and enjoy Disney!

My sister was told this too while she was going through chemo. Her doctor actually told her to think back to when she was PG with her 2 kids. Anything she couldn't do then she pretty much couldn't do during treatments. Buffets were a huge no no b/c of listeria and viruses.

 

[hulagirl87]

I have not been told to avoid buffets. You are going during free dinning time when everything is booked up so no food will be sitting for long periods of time.

I do feel scared about other people's hygiene and their touching those tools so I will personally bring hand sanitizer with me to the buffet.

This isn't a comment about the food per se, but I used hand sanitizer a lot on our last trip because I'm not a fan of germs so much and I wound up with the worst flu I've ever had in my life. I've never been so sick. Oh the irony

 

[sconnell]

I wasn't...
I say go and watch for food that comes out fresh! (Ask your waiter for a heads up!)

 

[leanan]

This isn't a comment about the food per se, but I used hand sanitizer a lot on our last trip because I'm not a fan of germs so much and I wound up with the worst flu I've ever had in my life. I've never been so sick. Oh the irony

The best year I had flu wise was the year I had to get the Rabies Vaccine. This was because they had to give me a second shot of some stuff to boost my immune system while the rabies shot took affect. The stuff in quesion is in limited quanities as most is shipped over to Iraq for the soilders so it is not like I can go yeah please give me another 10 shots of that in the tush. Gosh though I wish I could get it each year. I did not have the flu once.

 

[lilbrooks]

is there sneeze guards?!?

 

[ElizabethB]

On cruise ships, they can force you to clean your hands before you eat -- and they do!

The last couple of RCCL cruises we've been on, employees spray hand sanitizer on everyone's hands before they are allowed into dining venues! No hand sanitizer, no admittance.

 

[jenjersnap]

Listeria is a foodborne bacteria so wouldn't be contracted from touching the serving spoons.

OP, I have been to WDW when PG last time and never was advised to avoid the buffets. I did - and will this time too (I will be 8 weeks PG) - avoid the cold items with the exception of the cooked goat cheese at Akershus which I can't get anywhere else so must take the chance (LOL). I figure sticking to the hot items will minimize the chances of listeria as surely Disney is careful about maintaining proper temperatures. That seems like a reasonable compromise for me personally. It's scary, isn't it? Have a great trip.

 

[AMB1]

I'm going to stop lurking to respond to question.

During my first pregnancy I did everything by the book, including avoiding lunch meats, soft cheeses etc. I am now expecting my second and couldn't resist my craving for ham and cheese bagels for breakfast. I had looked into the risks of listerosis and decided the risks were so miniscule that I should enjoy my breakfast.

We here in Canada are now under a tainted meat listeria scare that has resulted in some 200 products being pulled from the shelves in the past 2 weeks. Several people from vulnerable groups (the elderly in particular) have died and many more are sick. Now I understand that it can take 70 to 90 days for me to even show symptoms of listerosis. Now I understand that I may never show symptoms but my baby may have nevertheless contracted listeriosis which could result in pre-mature birth, stillbirth or the baby being born with birth defects.

So, did I enjoy each and every ham and cheese bagel? You bet. Am I regretting each and every one I ate? You bet. I'm sure the baby and I are fine, but that isn't stopping me from waking up in the middle of the night worrying. I'm obsessed with feeling the baby move just so I know she is still alive. This is a decision you need to make for yourself. The risks are not huge, but when they start to materialize around you, it is very stressful.

I believe the concern about buffets is more than simply germs passed from other diners to the food. Food at buffets is kept at somewhat luke warm temperatures which allows food born bacteria like listeria to grow. If you decide to eat from the buffet I suggest avoiding the deli meats, soft cheeses etc. and, also, look for food that has just come out of the kitchen piping hot or super chilled as the case may be.

Good luck and have a great trip.