Donut King – The Secret Behind Joffrey’s Huge Donuts
I’m a morning person. I like to wake up early and start my day off strong. Rope dropping a Disney Park to beat out the lines has never been a chore for me. An early day is the making of a productive Walt Disney World day, and I am an advocate for getting up and getting out. I know a huge, fresh, amazingly pillow-y donut is waiting for me at Joffrey’s to help fuel the morning madness!
Joffrey’s Pastries
If you don’t know, Joffrey’s is the official coffee company of the Walt Disney World Resort. Although you’re much better off to grab your morning cup of caffeine from Starbucks, the pastries they’re serving from the many kiosks across the Resort crush any you’ll find from the cases in Starbucks.
Credit: Maria Salerno
The pastries from Joffrey’s are massive. Like, mind-bogglingly enormously humongous insanely colossally massive. They’re so huge that I witnessed a family of 4 sharing one apple fritter, and no one had a small portion!
They’ve become so integrated in Disney culture that they’ve garnered themselves a cult following of their own. But the Disney-famous pastries that have drawn guests to the Parks aren’t in fact a product of Disney at all…and I had to discover the secret behind them.
Donut King
Credit: Maria Salerno
With just two locations both over 30 miles from Walt Disney World Property, I would bet you’ve never heard of a Donut King. The small, starkly white, stand-alone structure is nothing to look at, and if you were passing by, you’d never consider stopping off in fear of your tires popping from the unpaved parking area.
Credit: Maria Salerno
The neon “open 24 hours” sign was blown out by the bright Florida sunshine, and the glare on the windows made it impossible to see inside. But judging from the constant opening of the door, I had a feeling this Donut King wasn’t as isolated as I had originally thought, and when I was met with a hefty line of hungry Floridians queuing up inside, I knew then I was in for an experience that I had not expected.
Credit: Maria Salerno
The Donuts…and Fritters and Cinnamon Rolls and Bear Claws
There are donut shops, and then there are donut shops that blow your mind. Ok, admittedly I was not a believer in that statement until I went to Donut King, and it wasn’t until I stepped inside the no-frills establishment that I realized this place was all about the product!
Credit: Maria Salerno
Making fresh donuts 24/7, the line of folks waiting to get their fill spoke for itself. Although I always choose an apple fritter when I order at Joffrey’s, I decided to order the pastries that Disney does not carry.
Credit: Maria Salerno
Fully stocked shelves of every flavor donut imaginable lined the back wall. My eye was drawn to the case in front of the register though. It held the most massive, drool-worthy selection of ‘fancy donuts’ I had ever witnessed.
With options ranging from cinnamon rolls to bear claws to pull-apart creations to my beloved apple fritters, I had to be strategic. I chose four donuts not carried by Joffrey’s to see how they stacked up with the deliciousness I was used to being served.
Credit: Maria Salerno
Should You Visit?
Credit: Maria Salerno
I ordered a chocolate/vanilla/cinnamon pull-apart donut, a chocolate glazed twist, a chocolate cake donut, and a cinnamon sugar donut. The fresh glaze left behind on my fingers was still wet and had clearly been applied just before I ordered.
The donuts themselves literally collapsed from freshness when I bit into them, and given their pillow-y, super fresh profile, it wouldn’t have been difficult to down my entire box on the 30-minute ride back to Walt Disney World Property!
Credit: Maria Salerno
If you’re ever in the vicinity, stop into a Donut King! I can’t say enough good things about their donuts, and the no-frills retail shops do not hide the fact that their sole focus is on producing a top-quality donut for its local fanbase.
Its popularity caused it to take almost 10 minutes to be served, but I didn’t mind, because now I know why Disney chose a supplier 30-miles from its Property- the donuts are fantastic! Which donut from Donut King would you like to see Joffrey’s carry? Leave me a comment below and let me know!
Credit: Maria Salerno
Are you planning to book a Disney vacation for you and your family? I’d love to help! I am a proud MickeyTravels Authorized Vacation Planner (Platinum Level) specializing in all Disney destinations. From hotel to FastPass+ reservations, I will help with each and every aspect of your trip. And the best part about my services is that they are completely FREE!You can find me over on Facebook, or contact me directly at msalerno@mickeytravels.com, or 800-308-6257. I can’t wait to start planning your dream Disney vacation!
