Universal Epic Universe debuts Captain Cacao

Universal Orlando said on May 20 that Captain Cacao, a character previously known from Epic Universe merchandise and in-park backstory, will begin meeting guests in Celestial Park on May 22. The addition gives a walk-around presence to a figure already linked to Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, one of the retail locations in the park’s central hub. Third-party park outlets including Laughing Place, BlogMickey and Attractions Magazine published photos and reports from a media preview on May 19 showing the character greeting guests ahead of the official start. The move comes as Universal also pushes a summer ticket offer that adds two free days to certain multi-day admissions. ### Who is Captain Cacao, and where did the character come from? Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets identifies Captain Cacao as the navigator who travels with “young adventurer Maya of the Skies” to collect treats for the shop in Universal Epic Universe. Universal’s official description places both characters inside the Celestial Park story rather than in one of the park’s portal lands. AllEars reported on May 19 that Captain Cacao had appeared in merchandise before becoming a live meet-and-greet character. That made the debut an expansion of an existing in-park character identity, not the introduction of an entirely new intellectual property. ### When do guests actually start seeing Captain Cacao? (universalorlando.com) BlogMickey reported that the meet-and-greet is set to begin on May 22, 2026, the same date it said marks Epic Universe’s first anniversary. AllEars separately cited Universal social media saying the “marshmallow stars have aligned” and that guests should find Captain Cacao in Celestial Park starting May 22, while noting that character appearances are subject to change. (allears.net) Attractions Magazine and Laughing Place published May 19 coverage showing the character already operating in a preview setting, with photos of guest interactions and the character’s costume design. Those reports indicated the public-facing rollout had effectively started in media coverage before the listed guest debut date. (blogmickey.com) ### Why is Celestial Park the setting for this meet-and-greet? Celestial Park is the central area of Epic Universe and houses Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, the shop tied directly to Captain Cacao’s backstory. Universal describes Celestial Park as the “cosmic heart” of the park, making it the natural location for a character rooted in that land’s original story and retail environment. (attractionsmagazine.com) Epic Universe’s official site also continues to position Celestial Park as the connective hub for the broader park, distinct from lands tied to outside franchises. That gives Universal room to build recurring original characters there through shopping, food and live interactions. That is an inference based on the park’s layout and official land descriptions. (universalorlando.com) ### What else is Universal selling alongside this announcement? Universal Orlando’s current deals page advertises a promotion that gives guests two extra days free with a qualifying 3-day ticket. The company says the offer allows five days across Universal Epic Universe, Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure, with upgrade options that can include Volcano Bay. (universalorlando.com) AllEars separately reported this month that the promotion applies to both base and park-to-park versions of the ticket. Universal’s own offers pages frame the deal as part of its summer push after Epic Universe’s opening period. ### What should visitors watch next? May 22 is the date named by Universal-focused outlets for Captain Cacao’s official meet-and-greet start in Celestial Park. (universalorlando.com) Guests looking for the character can also track Universal Orlando’s park-hours and offers pages, which currently list Epic Universe operating information and the 3-day ticket plus 2 free days promotion. (blogmickey.com) (allears.net)