It could be, but Disney World has never really minded its tourists photographing every little thing. Personally, I think it's fine if discretion is used. I'm a Foodspotting user, so I snap pics of restaurant food and drink at home and on vacation. I won't whip out the camera if we're in close quarters, though, and I never use flash unless literally no other patrons can see it.
Discretion seems to be the key. I try to test my manual settings on the plates before I start snapping food pics so I dont have my flash firing through the meal, but every now and then I forget and feel silly.
seems to me that the places that ban people taking pics of food are screaming out for a bad review .
As far as disney goes i doubt they would do this as there is a lot of things that they don't properly enforce at the moment (cue jumping etc).
Yeah- I feel like places have something to hide if they're really that upset about it. I mean, I get how a flash can be distracting, but banning non-flash photography seems crazy IMO.
If I'm paying for it, it is mine, and I will do with it what I please

. I usually forget my camera, SD card, or battery charger anyways
Good point- I'm paying for it...so it should be mine to photograph. And now I'm having flashbacks of the day I forgot to charge my battery and was w/o a camera for several hours. The horror!
I think it would be difficult to enforce.
No restaurant can stop you from snapping a pic. They can't take your camera away, lol.
I don't see Disney getting into this with people.
From what I understand, the restaurants post the policy at the entry - might give you a warning - and then ask you to leave if you don't comply. Still- at that point - you're taking pics of food they've already prepared...and unless they promptly give you the boot...you have to wait around for the bill and boxing up the food. At that point- it just seems useless to enforce it. I guess I could always pop into one of the places here and test them... but probably no reason to waste the time and $.
I had a dining couple make fun of me to themselves at The Brown Derby as I took photos of the food for a trip report. I didn't hear them, but my wife did and it upset her a little. People's opinions can vary, and it never bothers me to take their criticism as long as I feel that it is unjustified. If the photography is not intrusive upon the "space" of others, then I do what I do without fear or concern.
I've heard that at V&A the maids/butlers will actually bring you a stool to set your camera on! So I think for now they're okay with it. I think it's different at Disney just because it's a tourist spot...I see what you mean though.
I had that happen to me at California Grill - the woman at the table next to ours making fun of me taking photos of the food (I didn't use flash, wasn't taking a picture of HER, etc.) - and honestly, it borderline ruined the meal for me.

I wish I'd reacted differently - I think I would now, I'm not quite so sensitive anymore - but it was pretty crappy at the time.
@
Ariel484 I remember that Cali Grill story...and how much it bugged me. Really - the nerve of some people. I mean, I could understand if your flash was firing non-stop and they were bothered by it, but to say what they said about taking a pic of food...just nasty. And to hear that @
rsoxguy had a similar issue...just really bugs me. That Cali Grill story stuck with me ... I remember even feeling a bit on edge on our last visit- wondering if someone would have the audacity to do the same. Someone started to say something, but I guess when I cut them off and told them about the trip report and online reviews I do...well, I think they thought I was a food critic. Still, if the photos aren't disruptive and are limited to my table, what business is it of theirs?
That is nice to hear about V&A.
there are far, far, worse things going on in restaurants. like unruly unkempt guests. being pestered by foamheads. and, more and more often in the theme park restaurants, lackluster (or worse) food.
i take pictures *and* shoot video with glee.
considering that meals are a 'photo op' for many (esp. the character feedings) they aren't going to stop the cameras from coming out, and certainly aren't going to tell people they can take a pic of goofy foamhead, but not the overcooked skirt steak (then again, if everyone started taking pics of their meals and using them as their avatar with the words FIX ME across it).
I agree...there are far greater issues to lose it over while dining. Good point on the character meals...no way those could ever be camera free.
I thought it already had...In our last two trips I dont recall a single TS meal where a patron wasn't documenting the courses. Aside from the flash crazy nut in Le Cel, it doesn't bother me though as I've done it occasionally, flash free of course.
I was referring to the trend to ban food photography in restaurants. Yea- I'm also fine as long as I'm not constantly blinded by someone's flash.
I always want to take pictures of the food but I'm scared to use the flash. So I only take pictures int he well lit places at WDW. V&A is well lit but I thought it would be tacky. Although if I saw another person do it I would take my camera out right away.
I often test my camera in manual mode or a flash free landscape setting before the food comes out. A friend suggested using an illuminated phone screen at full brightness to add some extra light as that's less bothersome than a flash, but I know it can still be distracting to have phone screens lighting up in a dimly lit restaurant. We have yet to try V&A, but I think I'd probably bring my camera just so she could have her own little spot... and then I'd probably take a pic of my camera on her stool w/my phone...flash free of course
If they don't want ugly pictures of food out there maybe they should plate the food like the pictures they are using to advertise it. Sounds like BS to me.
Agreed! While I try and be realistic, I still expect my food to come out nicely plated.
Ill always be taking pictures of my food whether they like it or not!!!
Yeah- I feel the same
What are they gonna do, take my camera away? Give me a break. I'll continue to take pictures of my food when I want to. If a restaurant doesn't like that, I won't eat there again.
I have a feeling they'd probably ask the patron to close out their check and leave. Still, if I'm paying for it and not using my flash- I don't get where there's a problem. I think not returning to a place like this as you've suggested would probably be the best approach since they may learn to miss your $.
My hubby likes to take food pics. I think it's kinda weird, but that's just me.
I think DH secretly feels that way about my food photos. Ok- really not so secretly...he usually has some silly remark to the kids about mommy needing to get pics of their food before they can eat.
