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Strolling through Universal Orlando’s CityWalk, you can’t help but notice Voodoo Doughnuts: from the towering pink-and-black building to the 12-foot-tall replica of its Voodoo Doll doughnut to its pastry-barnacled throne outside, it’s total Instagram bait. And when you see the 50 (yes, 50!) flavors on the menu, it’s hard to resist making a detour.
But if you’re not already at CityWalk—or planning a day at Universal Studios—is a trip to Voodoo Doughnuts in Orlando worth it? Especially when you have to factor in $30 for parking, if you visit before 6 p.m. (and don’t have an annual pass).
Well, if you’re shelling out for parking and don’t have other real plans there, we’re going to go with…no. But, if you make it an evening trip—or piggyback it with a nearby matinee at AMC, where you can get the fee waived—it’s absolutely worth a trip, no matter the line.
Here’s what you should know before you go.
What Do Voodoo Doughnuts Taste Like?
Voodoo specializes in yeast doughnuts—light and fluffy, with plenty of air pockets, like a lightened-up croissant—but the company also bakes cake-based treats, like its blueberry doughnut. The cake doughnuts are moist and flavorful, whereas the yeast ones are pillowy. Some can be a bit dry, but that’s what the glaze (which is sugary, yet not gritty) is for.
What Are the Best Voodoo Doughnut Flavors?
If you don’t mind jelly filling, order the Voodoo Doll. The yeast doughnut features a raspberry jelly filling (which tastes more like the fruit than a saccharine puree), a rich chocolate frosting and a pretzel “stake” through its heart, offering a salty finish that really brings out the richness of the cocoa.
Other favorites are the blueberry cake (so moist! So blueberry-y!), Oh, Captain, My Captain (the crunch of the cereal and sweetness of the vanilla frosting is a home run) and Memphis Mafia (it’s like the best of a fritter and banana bread combined, all coated in a hearty dose of peanut butter and chocolate).
Avoid the Bacon Maple Bar. Though they’re often credited as the originators of the maple bacon doughnut craze, the bacon tends to peel off in a single bite and the bar itself tends to be dry. A traditional doughnut with chopped bacon offers a better pastry-to-frosting-to-bacon ratio.
How Much Do Voodoo Doughnuts Cost?
Classic glazed and frosted doughnuts are typically about $1.50, but fancier doughnuts and fritters (such as the Memphis Mafia) can cost up to $5.25 apiece.
When Should I Visit?
If you’re heading to the Orlando location, aim to visit on a weeknight, when you can score free parking after 6 p.m., or—if you want to avoid crowds—head there on a weekday just after the morning rush hour. Catch a matinee movie (or use your Universal Studios annual pass, if you have one) to score free parking that way.