If you’ve seen a dark chocolate teddy bear in a blue hat around Celestial Park, that’s Captain Cacao: an original Epic Universe character, a moonship navigator, and one of the park’s most recognisable faces. Here’s who he is, where to meet him, and the official story behind the shop.
Who is Captain Cacao?
Captain Cacao is a moonship navigator and an original character created for Celestial Park at Universal Epic Universe, according to Universal’s official Discover Universal blog on 19 May 2026. He isn’t from a film or an existing franchise. He travels the cosmos looking for treats to sell at Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, the confectionery shop in Celestial Park.
What is Captain Cacao’s story?
The official lore, set out in Universal’s guide to Celestial Park and a later behind-the-scenes post, starts with Maya of the Skies, a young explorer from Celestial Park. Show producer Gina Scheraldi has said Maya met Captain Cacao on an adventure, and he became her navigator so they could keep travelling together.
They sail aboard the Marshmallow Airship Joei de Ganache, a moonship powered by floating marshmallow stars, searching for ingredients and recipes to bring back to the shop. Universal says that when you step inside Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, you’re inside Maya’s moonship.
A third member of the crew is Major Lolli. Scheraldi has said the initials M.L. on a tiny door in the shop stand for Major Lolli, “a little sugar slider” who helps keep the ship in tip-top shape. Guests can see a door for Maya, a smaller one for the Captain, and that even smaller door marked M.L.
What does Captain Cacao look like?
Universal describes him as a dark chocolate teddy bear with a white chocolate star over his eye, an orange and gold shoulder sash, and a blue hat. The 19 May 2026 announcement put it in slightly shorter terms: a shoulder sash, a big blue hat and a white chocolate star.
Where can you meet Captain Cacao at Epic Universe?
Guests have been able to meet him near The Oak & Star Tavern in Celestial Park since 22 May 2026, the park’s first anniversary, according to the official announcement the previous day. Universal notes that appearance times can change, so it’s worth checking on the day rather than assuming a fixed timetable.
What about the Captain Cacao plush?
The character was already popular as merchandise before the walkaround meet-and-greet began. Universal’s merchandising team created a plush, backpack and bucket hat exclusive to Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets. Inside Universal reported in May 2026 that the plush had frequently sold out at the shop.
FAQ
Who is Captain Cacao? An original Epic Universe character: a chocolate-bear moonship navigator, and the face of Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets in Celestial Park.
Where is the Captain Cacao meet and greet? Near The Oak & Star Tavern in Celestial Park. It began on 22 May 2026. Appearance times can change.
Is Captain Cacao from a film? No. Universal created him for Celestial Park at Epic Universe.
Who are Maya of the Skies and Major Lolli? Maya is the young explorer he sails with. Major Lolli is “a little sugar slider” who helps look after their moonship, according to Universal’s official lore.
Universal Orlando has since posted a teaser that appears to point to something called “Cacao-ella”, but that hasn’t been officially explained yet. See our news piece on the Celestial Park teaser for what is, and isn’t, confirmed.
Image: Universal Orlando / Discover Universal. © 2026 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.
