Sunday Brunch: Flat Breads Fall Flat
3 February 2013
On a recent trip to Pinocchio's Village Haus, I
noticed the interior seemed a bit'refreshed! With a new paint job,
vibrant colors, the 41 year old dining establishment seemed brand
new. I'm not quite sure when this refurbishment occurred as I have
been avoiding dining at Pinnocho's due to another change that
occurred in 2012. Opening with the park, Pinocchio's Village Haus
has had many menu changes through the years, with pizza being the
main star in recent years. Last year, the menu had changed again and
while the pizza did not go away, its original recipe had.

'New' Menu
In previous articles, I took notice to some of the
new healthy food menu revamps across the property and I do
firmly believe this is a wise move on Disney's part as many guests
often complained of the theme park junk they find around every
corner. In my experience I found one of the most common of these
healthy changes was the use of flat breads. Flat breads are
considered healthy because they contain less bread. Less bread means
fewer calories and in today's world, less calories is unfortunately
deemed as healthy in our culture of overeating, overweight, but
always hungry Americans. Nearly every deluxe resort offers a
flatbread food option at their quick service location and those
pesky flavorless crusts found their way into Pinocchio's.
Pinocchio used to serve the same fluffy, saucy,
cheesy cafeteria style pizza we know and love from Pizzafari and
Pizza Planet. Now we are stuck with sauce and cheese on
cardboard.
Okay, they're not that bad, and some people do like
flat breads. Pinocchio even serves some interesting and mature
flavors like the Caprese (Mozarella, tomato, balsamic and basil) to
the crowd pleasing Barbecue Chicken Flatbread. As for me, I prefer
the fluffy crust, even if it does mean more calories. Those pizzas
were more filling, even in small portions. Now a kid's size pizza
(and yes I understand, what business does a grown young man have
ordering a kid's meal) is barely anything at all. In the workout
that is walking around Walt Disney World, people need to realize
sometimes the large portion sizes are necessary to provide enough
energy to peruse the parks.

Caprese Flatbread
In most restaurants in this country, healthy food
options are an additional choice in a menu, sort of like a bonus.
Even within Disney World you can tell which entr'e at a quick
service location was put in the menu to please the health conscious
guests (and remind the bulk of the remaining guests of the glutton
they are being by ordering that Double Angus Cheese Burger with
bacon and onion straws). At Pinnochio's you can't choose for that
delicious fluffy crust one finds in the other quick service
pizzerias around the resort. You've only got the flat bread and
you're stuck with that. True this can be a circular argument, if you
really want that fluffy crust just go somewhere else. Pinocchio's
menu is always changing, deal with it. Though the point is within
restaurants in Disney, the healthy option was always a choice along
with the you-know-its-bad-for-you-but-oh-well-I'm-on-vacation
choices. At Pinocchio's you can't make that bad decision, Disney's
already decided you're going to eat healthy.

Puny kids pizza. Yes, those are French Fries on the side.
So just don't eat there. Yep, that's what I've
decided. I'm going to be a glutton in Disney World to simply fuel me
for the day's adventures. So when I want pizza I won't be visiting
Disney's most famous Italian character. Sorry PiNOTcchio's Village
Haus, you can take away my crust but you can't take away my right to
choose.
Pizza Planet, you may not have theming on your side, but I'll
always return for your superior pizza.
Editor's note: I believe the BBQ Chicken Pizza
is easily one of the best pizzas found throughout Disney property
and HIGHLY recommend it! In my opinion it's great to have a quick
service pizza found within the park that is different from all the
other park pizza. In my opinion it's a extremely welcome change and
is actually one of my favorite meals on property.