Captain Cacao Is Stepping Out From Behind the Chocolate Counter at Epic Universe

There’s a particular kind of magic that happens when a theme park creates something fans fall in love with almost by accident. Universal is about to lean all the way into exactly that.

On May 22, 2026 — the same day Epic Universe celebrates its first birthday — a chocolate teddy bear named Captain Cacao will start meeting guests in Celestial Park. According to Orlando ParkStop, Universal teased the debut with a line that fits the park’s cosmic-candy aesthetic perfectly: “The marshmallow stars have aligned. Captain Cacao has arrived and is ready to meet you at Universal Epic Universe.” The company added the standard caveat that the character appearance is “subject to change,” but the date is set.

If you haven’t met him yet, here’s the backstory.

Who Is Captain Cacao?

Captain Cacao is the mascot of Moonship Chocolates, the sweet shop tucked into Celestial Park, the lush central hub that greets every guest as they enter Epic Universe. He’s a plush, huggable chocolate teddy bear — the kind of character that exists mostly to sell candy and put a smile on a kid’s face.

And that’s exactly what happened. When Epic Universe opened in May 2025, the Captain Cacao plush toys became a surprise hit. Guests scooped them up, posted them all over social media, and turned a shop mascot into one of the park’s most quietly beloved figures. He wasn’t attached to a blockbuster movie or a decades-old franchise. He was just charming, and people responded to that.

Now Universal is rewarding the affection by bringing him to life as a walk-around character.

Why a Chocolate Bear Matters More Than You’d Think

It’s easy to shrug off a new meet-and-greet. But Captain Cacao is genuinely unusual for one reason: he’s an original character, created by Universal specifically for Epic Universe.

Think about who you normally line up to meet at a Universal park — characters from Harry Potter, Nintendo’s Mario universe, How to Train Your Dragon, Jurassic World. Almost all of them arrive with a built-in fan base from films, games, or books. Captain Cacao has none of that. He was born inside the park, and his popularity grew organically from guests who simply liked him.

That’s a meaningful signal. It tells you Universal is confident enough in Epic Universe’s own identity to build characters from scratch — and that the Celestial Park concept, with its dreamy blend of cosmos and candy, is connecting with guests exactly the way the designers hoped.

What This Means If You’re Visiting

For families especially, this is good news. Captain Cacao is approachable, kid-friendly, and stationed right in Celestial Park, so you won’t have to trek deep into one of the themed worlds to find him. He’s a low-key, feel-good addition to the beginning or end of your day.

A few practical notes: Universal hasn’t published set meet-and-greet times yet, and as the official tease reminds everyone, character appearances can change without notice. If meeting the Captain is high on your kid’s list, check the day’s schedule in the Universal Orlando app once you’re inside the park, and don’t be surprised if the lines run a little longer than usual during the anniversary window.

A Fitting Birthday Gift

There’s something appropriate about Universal choosing the one-year anniversary to debut its first homegrown character. Epic Universe opened on May 22, 2025 to enormous crowds and sky-high expectations, and a year later it has more than held its own. Rolling out Captain Cacao on that exact date feels like the park planting a flag: this place has its own personality now, and it’s confident enough to celebrate it.

So if you’re lucky enough to be at Epic Universe this Friday, swing through Celestial Park and say hello. The marshmallow stars, apparently, have aligned.