[geeman]

I just saw a commercial for a "Special Report" they will be having tonight (Feb 9th at 11PM) on Channel 2 News here in NY (CBS, for those of you who might be able to see it on satellite)-- they are going to cover the "HEALTH ISSUES AT WDW RESTAURANTS"!!! I couldn't hear the clips - they showed various park restaurants and plates and set ups and seem to be taking time out to point out the "health hazards" that might make you -- these are their bad puns--- "Sleepy" -- "Sneezy" -- "Grumpy" -- "Sickly".
:(

I won't be able to watch it live, but I'll set the Tivo for it, and will hopefully be able report on it after I get a chance to watch (probably not until late Tomorrow or sometime Wednesday). If anyone catches it beforehand, go on and post and let us know what the fuss is all about.

I know I'm going to hate myself for watching it - because the media always has a tendency to blow things way out of proportion - but it will be interesting to see what they have to say about eating at our favorite places in the 'World'.

[DisneyTeacher]

Yikes!!!:nooo: I am not sure I want to hear it.

[Disneybound]

Please, someone that fill me in!

[iluvwdw]

I am going to watch it...if I can stay awake until 11pm!!! I will let you know what it's all about....if I even get to see it!!!! :dazed

[tinkerbell]

ok .. CBS .. reporting on WDW food ..arent they the same ones that showed the super bowl?
I would love to hear mmm read what they say ..so I will be watching this space

[mmouse67l]

Here is the text of the article from CBS New York's website:

Feb 9, 2004 11:00 pm US/Eastern
NEW YORK (CBS) The upcoming Presidents' Day week is one of the busiest times of the year at Walt Disney World Resorts, when thousands of families head south for their February break for fun in the sun. But how safe is the food?

In an exclusive Eat At Your Own Risk investigation, Kirstin Cole takes a look at dozens of Disney restaurant health inspection records, uncovering critical health code violations.

"This year plan a gathering with your circle of loved ones," the Walt Disney World commercial said during the Super Bowl.

It was a commercial like this that brought Dr. Bruce Boyd and his family to Walt Disney World last May, a promised trip to one of his seven-year-old twins for having her tonsils out.

"Well, it was fun at first but the time when daddy got sick it was boring," recalls Sarah Boyd.

The Boyds say their long-awaited vacation to Walt Disney World was cut short when dad got sick after eating at a restaurant in Epcot. "I was pretty much laying in bed the whole time and doubled over with cramps and about every 45 minutes I was in the bathroom," Bruce Boyd remembers.

Children of all ages will see their dreams come true by getting a magical Disney World vacation this February break. There's an adventure for everybody and a whole kingdom of restaurants to delight in, but could your lunch turn your stomach more than the twirling tea cup ride?

In an exclusive Eat At Your Own Risk investigation CBS 2 examined the health inspection records of over 150 Walt Disney Resort eateries and found half had at least one critical health code violation in 2003. Violations health officials in Tallahassee say can make you sick.

"Keep your hands clean, keep your working surfaces clean, keep correct temperatures. They are very basic things but can avoid food-borne illness," says Geoff Luebkemann from the Department of Business & Professional Regulation.

Disney promises lunch fit for a princess at Cinderella's Royal Table, tucked away the inside of the magical castle, but when inspectors were there last August they found two critical health code violations lurking. The turkey, the ham and the cheese were all held at dangerous temperatures, which experts say can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria.

"Bacteria causes food-borne illness or can lead to it," Luebkemann says.

The 'Tower of Terror' isn't the only thing that may be dishing out upset stomachs at the Disney resorts. Beyond the critical health code violations, the state of Florida received eight complaints in 2003 from Disney guests of food poisoning.

"I don't tend to complain," Boyd says. But he was so ill he filed a complaint with the state, saying he got a serious bout of food-borne illness at the Coral Reef Restaurant in Epcot Center.

Test results confirmed Boyd had salmonella poisoning. "I'm no public health expert but apparently they have some contamination going on," Boyd says.

When inspectors visited the Coral Reef Restaurant last May they found no violations related to Dr. Boyd's food-borne illness complaint but they did find another violation. Vegetables, couscous and sausage all being held at unsafe temperatures.

"We are very proud of our food safety record and certainly one guest who has a bad experience here is one too many," says Disney spokesperson Jacquee Polak.

Polak proudly points out they serve more than 100 million meals a year and says they're a leader in food safety. "The USDA, the FDA and other local health officials have used us for their training ground and we think the system we have in place is effective and when there is an error we make the correction."

They insist they work hard to avoid violations and try to correct them immediately. "Of the millions and millions of guests who visit us every year, eight of those guests filed a health complaint and we think that is outstanding," Polak adds.

But it was no fun for ten people at the Disney Beach Club Resort last July. According to state records, after digging in to the clam bake at the Cape May Café they reported classic symptoms of food poisoning, including nausea, diarrhea and the chills. They called the state and blamed the steamed clams but when inspectors showed up two weeks later, they say they found no violations.

"These specific guests who had a bad experience here it wasn't prolific with the dining experience and if you had a problem we certainly would make sure it was addressed correctly," Polak tells CBS 2.

A New Jersey woman who says she was sickened after eating chicken and pasta at The Brown Derby Restaurant in MGM Studios last October complained directly to Disney but when CBS 2 tracked her down she wouldn't appear on camera because she says Disney paid her cash not to talk.

"Is it a common practice to sign confidentiality agreement?," Cole asked. "It's an agreement, this is basically to cover and protect both parties," Polak answered.

But when inspectors investigated the chicken and pasta complaint they uncovered diced chicken held at potentially hazardous temperatures, just one of 77 Disney Resort restaurants to have critical, dangerous violations in 2003.

My opinion, 8 complaints is miniscule far far lower than any number I would have guessed considering the number of meals they serve. I wonder what constitutes a critical violation in Florida because the article does not mention a single restaurant being bad enough that it was shut down for any period of time.

The whole article seems like a bit of a stretch to me. I plan on eating with no worries.

[geeman]

Great find, jmouse!
I knew it would be a slanted piece just from the commercial. They took a small incident and magnified it by 20.
I wonder what Disney/ABC did that prompted Viacom/CBS to respond with such an incriminating report.
Like most special news reports, I take this with an, ahem, "grain of salt". It's probably "Sweeps" time.
The problem I have with this is that when it goes to the unsuspecting TV sets of certain people, they'll immediately believe it and warp the story until it becomes, "They say you shouldn't eat at Disney Restaurants". I know someone who is often spouting the cautions of an invisible "they".
Let's hope most people missed it.

[Mickey Maniac]

They had 8 reported cases in 2003, I'd say thats pretty good if you ask me, think of how many people eat there every year.

Scroll down on the website below to "Eat at your own risk - Disney World"

http://kyw.com/topvideos/

Rob

[preidel24]

I saw the piece. It was on our local CBS station. I thought it was a sensationalistic piece of nothingness that was aired to scare people. The same situation could be said about many of the restuarants we frequent everyday, not to mention our own homes. I hope they did not acomplish their goal of scaring visitor leaving for WDW this weekend.

The chance that someone would have a problem is statistically minute. That being said, I feel for those who have had problems and have become ill at WDW. It is disappointing when you plan a trip only to end up sick. Those cases of sickness should be taken up with the proper authorities and dealt with on a case by case basis. The piece gave me every indication that this was being done and they didn't complain about how WDW handled complaints of food illness.

Warnings should only be released if it's chronic, and the eatery poses a immediate danger to the public. This criteria must not have existed since none of the places were shut down.

There is a fine line between educating the public to dangers and over dramatizing the problem for shock value and ratings. I thought the piece totally lacked substance and merit. They never really give you any suggestions on how to protect your family. Shame on CBS for trying to scare people before they leave on their magical vacation experience.

Here the video if you want to see it for yourselves.

http://kyw.com/topvideos/



Paula

[MagicalMoments]

I agree, 8 complaints in one year is outstanding! I believe, we take a risk whenever we eat out, wherever that may be. Our local diner etc. Even our own kitchens! ANd what we buy from our grocery stores. How many of us thoroughly clean everywhere our chicken has touched when preparing our meals! And wash hands thoroughly after touching different things. But it does not stop me from eating out. Nowhere is perfect however, it is my belief that some places try harder than others and Disney tries very hard! Just my opinion.

[DisneyTeacher]

I am so glad to read this. Eight complaints out of thousands and thousands of meals is great. I will not think twice about eating at WDW.

[mickaholic4077]

I was also reassured by the article posted. i mean,8 complaints out of 100 million meals served???? That's great!!!!

[mouseof4]

i agree 8 complaints is nothing really when you consider there volume, but at teh same time when you have that high of a volume things really do not have that much time to spoil etc. personally when we went 2 years ago my son got sick on the condiment bar on pickles he was vomiting and had stomache cramps it was not fun. so our rule is do not eat off the condiment bar , if you think about think how many people cough sneeze etc on those pickles, tomatoes etc. its really sick but its a chance you take we are very careful what we take since he got sick . here is a thought i bet cbs has a cafe or something in teh building they should investigate there own place see what happens!!!;)

[tinkerbell]

I have to agree with all the above .. finding only 8 people out of the millions. We have been going every year since 1991.. no one in my family has gotten sick from eating at WDW ..ok ok over eating maybe *grin*

[goofygal1975]

I do agree that 8 out of how many people is a good thing! That is more than a lot of places could say. However, my sisters fiance got food poisining at the GF on their engagement trip, and had to cut their last day very very short, plus the night he got sick they couldn't do anything. It was very dissapointing for them, this was supposed to be their special time together. They called down to let them know he had got sick, and they basically did nothing, but after a 2nd call did offer some free crackers I found it very dissapointing that they were treated so rude. They really didnt want anything but to let them know he had been sick from what he ate, so they could watch what they served that night. They still love disney and are planning on getting married there, and staying at the GF again on the honeymoon night!

Back to topic, though, I think Disney has a greater than average food service, and this news piece was something to air when they had nothing else better to air!!