Universal Epic Universe elevates an original retail-backstory character to a walk-around guest experience on its first anniversary, as Celestial Park’s Captain Cacao begins meet-and-greets from 22 May.
Universal Epic Universe has brought Captain Cacao to life as a walk-around character in Celestial Park. The official meet-and-greet began on 22 May 2026 – exactly one year after the park opened. Universal Orlando Resort confirmed the news via its official social media account on 18 May. A preview session held at a team member event on the same day drew lengthy queues before the public launch.
Captain Cacao is a dark chocolate-coloured teddy bear with a white chocolate star over one eye, a blue captain’s hat and an orange and gold shoulder sash. He is the navigator of Maya of the Skies, a young explorer from Celestial Park who journeys the cosmos seeking extraordinary ingredients. They crew the Marshmallow Airship Joei de Ganache together. A third character, Major Lolli – a sugar glider responsible for keeping the ship in working order – completes the crew.
All three characters anchor the lore of Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, the confectionery shop at the heart of Celestial Park. Three miniature doors inside the shop mark the entry points for Maya, Captain Cacao and Major Lolli respectively. Guests can currently find Captain Cacao near the Oak & Star Tavern in Celestial Park.
Universal first referenced Captain Cacao in March 2025, ahead of the park’s opening. Since Epic Universe launched on 22 May 2025, he has appeared on merchandise – a plush, backpack and bucket hat – as well as on confectionery sold in the shop. The plush built sustained organic demand with park guests throughout the first year.
Universal Creative designed the character entirely from scratch, working alongside the Universal Products and Experiences team. Celestial Park contains no licensed intellectual property. The park’s other four worlds draw on established brands: Super Nintendo World, the Ministry of Magic, Isle of Berk and Dark Universe. Captain Cacao’s elevation to a guest-facing character signals a deliberate investment in Celestial Park’s original storytelling.
The retail-to-character arc mirrors a model tested elsewhere in the industry. Disney’s Duffy the Bear began as a retail figure at Walt Disney World before becoming a major franchise at Tokyo DisneySea, with several companion characters following. Whether Universal pursues a similar expansion with the Celestial Park cast remains to be confirmed.
Image: Discoveruniversal Blog
