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Captain Cacao Debuts as Epic Universe Meet-and-Greet on the Park's One-Year Anniversary
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Captain Cacao Debuts as Epic Universe Meet-and-Greet on the Park's One-Year Anniversary

Michael Travels
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Published
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Updated

Captain Cacao is finally stepping out from behind the candy counter. Universal confirmed today that the original Celestial Park character, a dark-chocolate teddy bear with a white-chocolate star over one eye and a blue captain's hat, debuts as a costumed meet-and-greet at Epic Universe on Friday May 22, 2026, the park's one-year anniversary. Until today, Epic Universe had no announced commemorations for its first birthday.

Captain Cacao, the original Universal character mascot of Moonship Chocolates at Epic Universe, debuts as a meet-and-greet on May 22, 2026.
Captain Cacao meets guests at Celestial Park starting May 22, 2026. Image: Universal Orlando Resort.

The headlines:

  • Captain Cacao meet-and-greet debuts Friday May 22 at Celestial Park, Epic Universe's entry hub land.
  • The debut date is no coincidence: May 22, 2026 is the one-year anniversary of Epic Universe's May 22, 2025 opening.
  • Exact location and times will land in the resort app; Universal hasn't pinned the meeting spot to a specific corner yet.
  • Captain Cacao has been an original Universal character since the park opened (not a movie IP), appearing on merchandise and treats at Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets but never in person.

Who is Captain Cacao, exactly

Per Universal's official Discover Universal blog, Captain Cacao is the mascot of Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, the chocolate shop in Celestial Park. His backstory: he serves as navigator aboard the Marshmallow Airship "Joei de Ganache," piloted by explorer Maya of the Skies, who travels the cosmos sourcing rare sweets. Gina Scheraldi, Show Producer on Universal's Creative Design Team, told the blog last year: "Captain Cacao actually learned the skills to be a navigator so that he could travel with Maya."

Inside the shop, three small character doors represent Maya, Captain Cacao, and a sugar glider named Major Lolli. The interior is themed as the inside of Maya's moonship, with the bottoms of "floating marshmallows" hanging from the ceiling. Existing Captain Cacao merchandise at Moonship Chocolates includes a plush, a bucket hat, and a backpack.

The cult following finally pays off

Captain Cacao has built a real fan base in the year since Epic Universe opened, despite never appearing in person. Fans wear the plush, the bucket hat, and the t-shirts around the parks. Orlando Informer's Captain Cacao primer flagged the cult-following pattern back in March: a fully-developed original character with merchandise, in-park signage, and a backstory, but no meet-and-greet, was always going to land eventually.

What Universal hadn't signaled until today was the timing. Per a report from Fantasyland News, Universal Creative surprised the Celestial Park project team at what they thought was a one-year anniversary photo opportunity, when the costumed Captain Cacao appeared in full for the first time.

Universal's social-channel teaser, posted Monday morning, read: "The marshmallow stars have aligned 💫 Captain Cacao has arrived and is ready to meet you at Universal Epic Universe!"

Why the timing matters

May 22, 2026 is the busiest single Friday on Universal Orlando's calendar this spring:

  • Epic Universe one-year anniversary.
  • Captain Cacao meet-and-greet debuts at Celestial Park.
  • Pteranodon Flyers reopens at Universal's Islands of Adventure after months of refurbishment (we covered testing on May 13).
  • And Saturday May 23, Blockbuster Summer 2026 kicks off across the resort with the Mega Movie Parade returning at Universal Studios Florida and the JAWS Amity overlay at USF anchoring the summer programming through August 10.

What's also happening at Universal this week

  • Hogwarts Castle scaffolding is in its final stretch at Islands of Adventure, with the Hogwarts Always projection show returning Saturday May 30 (we covered the scrim coming down on May 12).
  • Mystic Fountain is gone. Final shows ran Friday May 15 and the attraction was dark Saturday May 16 (we covered yesterday).
  • Po's Kung Fu Training Camp and Po Live! close today at DreamWorks Land in USF for a refurbishment, with a planned July 4 return.
  • UOAP Bonus Benefits continue through Thursday May 21 for passholders.

Quick planner notes

  • If you have a Friday May 22 Universal trip planned, build in a Celestial Park stop for the Captain Cacao meet. Expect the meeting spot to draw lines from the opening hour.
  • Combine with a Moonship Chocolates merch run. Captain Cacao plush, bucket hat, and backpack have been on shelves for months but are likely to see opening-day demand spikes.
  • The Pteranodon Flyers reopen is the same day. If you're visiting on May 22, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe are both running anniversary or reopen attractions. A two-park ticket pays off that day.
  • The resort app will carry the meeting times. Universal hasn't pinned the schedule to a specific window; check the app the morning of your visit.

Sources

Image credit: Universal Orlando Resort.

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