Universal Orlando Resort introduced a new Captain Cacao character experience at Epic Universe on May 22 for its one-year anniversary. The meet-and-greet quickly drew large crowds in Celestial Park, with many guests reporting waits of more than an hour during parts of the day.
Universal announced the new Epic Universe meet-and-greet earlier in the week through official social media posts and company blogs. The company described Captain Cacao as “ready to meet new explorers as he travels the cosmos seeking the best treats to sell in his store, Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets.”
Guests can find the Captain Cacao appearance area near The Oak & Star Tavern in Celestial Park.
Who Is Captain Cacao?
Captain Cacao is one of the few major original characters created specifically for Epic Universe.
The character already had a visible presence in Celestial Park before the live meet-and-greet began. Guests could find Captain Cacao artwork on merchandise, themed packaging, decorative signs, and displays tied to Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets.
Captain Cacao Plushes at Epic Universe – YouTube, Ride Creator
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Universal designed much of Celestial Park around original world-building elements instead of licensed intellectual property. Captain Cacao forms part of that approach. The character’s design connects to the land’s astronomy and exploration themes, which appear throughout the area’s architecture, gardens, and retail locations.
Gina Scheraldi, show producer on the Universal Creative design team, shared more of Captain Cacao’s backstory and connection to another Celestial Park character, Maya of the Skies.
“Maya of the Skies is a young girl who travels across the cosmos on her moonship,” she said. “She met Captain Cacao on an adventure, and he became her navigator so that he could keep traveling with this best friend.”
Hourlong Waits Reported Throughout the Day
Opening-day photos and videos spread across social media throughout the afternoon. Many guests shared images showing long lines near the meet-and-greet location shortly after appearances started.
Several theme park news outlets reported that the Epic Universe Captain Cacao meet-and-greet reached waits exceeding one hour during peak periods.
News has gotten out that Captain Cacao may be meeting in Celestial Park tonight, this line is easily like 1.5-2.5 hours 💀 pic.twitter.com/eVprOggryX
— Ethan 💫 (@ThatDisneyBoi) May 19, 2026
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Social media activity appeared to increase interest as the day continued. Guests posted videos of the queue extending into nearby pathways in Celestial Park. Additional visitors later joined the line after seeing posts online.
Character Experiences Continue Growing at Epic Universe
Epic Universe opened in 2025 as Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park. The park includes several themed lands connected through Celestial Park, which acts as the central hub area.
Character interactions now play a major role throughout the resort. Guests can meet Nintendo characters in Super Nintendo World, dragons and Vikings in How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, and performers connected to other themed areas across the park.
Mario and Luigi Meet-and-greet at Nintendo World in Epic Universe – YouTube, Mouse Steps / JWL Media
Universal has increasingly expanded live entertainment and character offerings in recent years. Meet-and-greet experiences often generate steady guest traffic because they appeal to visitors across different age groups.
The Captain Cacao meet-and-greet adds another entertainment option outside the park’s rides and stage shows. The experience also gives Celestial Park a dedicated character interaction tied directly to the area’s original storyline.
Early guest turnout suggests the character has quickly become one of the most recognizable original figures associated with Epic Universe.
What do you think of Epic Universe adding a Captain Cacao meet-and-greet? Let us know your thoughts about the new character experience in the comments below.
