VooDoo Doughnut Arrives in Orlando: What You Need to Know

VooDoo Doughnut Arrives in Orlando: What You Need to Know

Ever longed to visit the iconic, Portland-based VooDoo Doughnut but felt like 3,032 miles was just a bit far to travel?

 

Well, good news: VooDoo Doughnut has landed at CityWalk at Universal Orlando, so you can get your sugar fix right here.

 

Skeletons at VooDoo Doughnut Orlando

VooDoo Doughnut is known for their unique flavors and irreverent, euphemism-filled style. If you’ve visited one of their non-CityWalk locations, you’ll notice some details have been toned down ever-so-slightly in the interest of being family-friendly. No weiner-shaped or blunt-styled pastries here. Some names have been changed, too: Butterfingering is just called Butterfinger, The Homer is Little Pink, the Gay Bar became Pride, and Triple Chocolate Penetration has been truncated to just Triple Chocolate. Their slogans are still prominent (“the magic is in the hole” and “good things come in pink boxes”) so be aware if you plan to stop in with inquisitive younglings.

VooDoo Doughnut Orlando

Doughnut/Donut Varieties + Waiting in Line

VooDoo’s donuts fall into two main categories: Raised Yeast and Cake. A number of their offerings are also vegan. Those who have food allergies should be aware that all donuts are prepared on the same equipment and may contain “eggs, milk and dairy products, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, voodoo magic, and soy.”

Donuts are priced between $1 and $10 each. Want a dozen? Depending on the varieties included, they can make it happen for between $19 – $30. If you need to be over-the-top and buy a wooden coffin o’donuts, that’ll set you back about $130. Yep, you can use your UO Passholder discount here.

VooDoo Doughnut Pink Box

The Queue

No idea what you want? Don’t worry – the door attendant has menus, and you’ll get to circle a donut carousel while in line. I actually don’t recommend trying to decide before you arrive, because CityWalk does not carry some of the flavors other locations do.

Be prepared to spend between 10 – 20 minutes in line. The queue is split in two, so half your wait might be outside. Since parking at CityWalk is free after 6:00 PM and heaps of people descend upon the area for dinner, evening wait times might be longer.

VooDoo Doughnut Orlando Menu

The Part Where We Actually Eat the Donuts

I’m usually a cake donut person, but at VooDoo, I prefer their fritters and raised yeast donuts. While the cakes are dense and a bit dry, the raised yeasts are soft and fluffy.

VooDoo Doll

Donuts from VooDoo Doughnut: Portland Cream, Grape Ape, Little Pink/Homer, and VooDoo Doll

Clockwise from top left: Portland Cream, Grape Ape, Little Pink/Homer, and VooDoo Doll

 

VooDoo Doughnut’s signature offering. Big raised yeast donut with chocolate frosting, raspberry filling, and a pretzel stick. Each one has a face and a tummy swirl, but individual donuts vary. I’ve seen a dolls with vampire teeth, bottom teeth only, and so forth.

I don’t personally love chocolate frosting, but this is a good donut. My favorite part was the raspberry filling; it was sweet, tart, and so different from the sickly-sweet jelly filling you commonly find. If they made this with glaze instead of chocolate frosting, I’d be all over it.

Conversely, Mr. EC’s least favorite part was the raspberry filling. He found it too overpowering and too sour. He loved the flavor of the chocolate frosting, though, and approved of the icing-to-donut ratio.

Little Pink

(Portland Name: Homer)

Yeast donut with strawberry frosting and sprinkles. Quite possibly my favorite so far. The dough is soft and fluffy, and the frosting is sweet and has that satisfying faux-strawberry flavor. Nothing over-the-top, but still damn good.

ODB

ODB and Memphis Mafia from VooDoo Doughnut

Back Left: ODB Front Right: Memphis Mafia

 

(Portland Name: Old Dirty Bastard)

Raised yeast donut with vanilla frosting, oreo crumbles, and peanut butter. Mr. EC found it bold and heavy; peanut butter is a dominant flavor in this one.

Buttermilk Bar

Buttermilk Bar from VooDoo Doughnut

Possibly the 2nd most boring-looking VooDoo offers, but it’s damn delicious. The inside is dense and a little dry, but it’s soft at the same time. The glaze is where this baby really shines, though. Whoa. So good.

Portland Cream

Yeast donut filled with Bavarian cream and topped with chocolate frosting. Essentially a Boston Cream donut. VooDoo didn’t skimp on the filling.

Mr. EC liked this one but says there are more exciting donuts to get from VooDoo. You can essentially get this kind of treat anywhere.

I found the filling to be a little perfumey, oddly enough, but I do agree and appreciate that they weren’t half-assing it when they filled the shell.

Butterfinger

Butterfinger donut from VooDoo Doughnuts

(Portland Name: Butterfingering)

Chocolate cake donut with vanilla frosting and Butterfinger crumbles. Small and dense. Mr. EC’s favorite. The Butterfinger topping was finely ground and balanced out the cake nicely.

Memphis Mafia

Memphis Mafia from VooDoo Doughnut

Fritter with actual banana pieces, cinnamon, glaze, chocolate, and peanut butter. SO. GOOD. This one is huge, roughly the size of a personal pan pizza, so you can totally split it between 2 – 3 people. One of the messiest donuts I’ve tried from VooDoo, but worth it. If you’re a Bananas Foster person, a chocolate person, and a peanut butter person, this is the best of all three worlds.

Grape Ape

Raised yeast donut with vanilla frosting, grape dust, and sprinkles. Made my car smell like a block of grape BubbleYum in the best way possible. Dough is soft and fluffy, per usual. Vanilla frosting is sweet, creamy, and delicious. Grape dust tastes a bit sour and super grapey. Was this weird to have on a donut? Yes, totally. But did it also taste good? Also yes. Gold star for creativity.

Sugar Drunk

VooDoo Doughnut offers a big variety of donuts – some are simple, and others are unconventional. Whether you’re feeling adventurous or prefer to play it safe with an old favorite, they’re gonna have something you’ll like.

If we were going to buy a dozen donuts, we’d probably head to Krispy Kreme. But when we’re at Universal or CityWalk and craving a sweet treat? VooDoo is the perfect place to visit.

How to Star Wars: What Order to Watch

How to Star Wars: What Order to Watch

Are you tired of hearing May the 4th be with you yet?

Star Wars is a cultural icon.

It’s everywhere. Solo is coming out in a few weeks, the releases of The Force Awakens, Rogue One, and The Last Jedi over the holidays for the past few years have been enormous, and an entire Star Wars land is opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios next summer. Plus there are books, animated series, clothing, and toys.

Wampa Cave on Hoth

If you don’t know anything about Star Wars but would like to, where do you start? Most people would assume they should just watch all of the films in chronological order; however, I’ve outlined a few different options below that’ll give you a better understanding of the universe, characters, and lore.

And yeah, you have to watch Clone Wars and Rebels. If you don’t, you’ll be missing out on so much important insight, especially when it comes to episodes 7, 8, and 9. Promise. Oh, and you’ll also never meet some of the franchise’s absolute best characters.

This list doesn’t include graphic novels, novels, or games.

Jedi with lightsaber in front of AT-AT

Okay, now. Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away…

 

Option 1: Order of Release (more or less).

You’re watching the movies and shows in the same order the world saw them. Some people don’t like this order because a major reveal happens in The Empire Strikes Back, so you’ll already know about this big thing within the first three movies.

The Originals:

Star Wars: A New Hope (4)

The Empire Strikes Back (5)

Return of the Jedi (6)

The Prequels:

Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

Episode 2: Attack of the Clones

Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith

The Animateds:

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (animated film)

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (animated series)

Star Wars Rebels (animated series)

The Sequels:

The Force Awakens (7)

Rogue One (3.5) (Rogue One takes place prior to A New Hope; however, it was released between The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. It is not a sequel.)

The Last Jedi (8)

Episode 9 – TBD, holiday 2019

 

Option 2: Chronological Order

This is the order the films/series take place in relation to one another. There are many dedicated Star Wars, uh, gatekeepers who’ll insist this is the wrong way to do it. You decide for yourself, though. There’s so much to dig through in the prequel era, and the Clones material and timeline can be really confusing. Totally new to Star Wars? This isn’t a bad way to start.

Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

Episode 2: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (animated film)

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (animated series)

Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars Rebels (animated series)

Rogue One

Star Wars: A New Hope (4)

The Empire Strikes Back (5)

Return of the Jedi (6)

The Force Awakens (7)

The Last Jedi (8)

Episode 9 – TBD, holiday 2019

 

Option 3: Modified Machete Order

Machete Order was coined by Rod Hilton. You can read his exceptionally thorough 2011 blog post here. Machete Order is as follows: Star Wars: A New Hope (4), The Empire Strikes Back (5), Attack of the Clones (2), Revenge of the Sith (3), and Return of the Jedi (6). Yes, Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, is excluded.

But there’s more material in 2018 than there was in 2011, soo… If I were going to add the newer films and shows without changing Rod’s plan, my pick would be:

Rogue One

Star Wars: A New Hope (4)

The Empire Strikes Back (5)

Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (yes, I’m adding this one back, not because it’s a great film, but so you can discuss it with people)

Episode 2: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (animated film)

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (animated series)

Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars Rebels (animated series)

Return of the Jedi (6)

The Force Awakens (7)

The Last Jedi (8)

Episode 9 – TBD, holiday 2019

 

Whoa. So… I might be more overwhelmed. What order should I pick?

Confusing, right? I get it. If you’re new to Star Wars and haven’t seen most of the films or animated series, pick either Option 1 or 2. You know yourself best and you can decide whether you might be confused or frustrated by timeline jumps.

Once you’ve done that, then go back and watch Rod’s original Machete Order. Next, watch the Modified Machete Order. See how many new things you notice and what perspectives change.

Happy viewing and please comment below with any questions! I can’t wait to welcome you to the big, nerdy Star Wars family.

Oh yeah, and may the force be with you. 😉