Attractions, food and beverage venues, and retail stores are staples in any theme park. But at Universal Orlando Resort, the Universal Creative Design team goes beyond the ordinary by infusing every space with a captivating story.
With Celestial Park at Universal Epic Universe, the team had the rare opportunity to create an entire world from scratch.
“Celestial Park is an original story created for Epic Universe,” says Gina Scheraldi, show producer on the Universal Creative Design team. “All of our buildings have characters and lore attached to it that help tell this story.”
In this world between worlds lies Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, which introduces the enchanting tale of a very cute bear. Thanks to the Creative Design team’s storytelling instincts, a fandom was sparked, rooted in the imaginative narrative behind Captain Cacao, one of our new original characters.
The first time I walked into Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, I audibly gasped. The color scheme. The display of macaroons as far as the eye can see. The Captain Cacao plush! I am the proud owner of literally ALL the merch, which is displayed in a prime spot on my bookshelf at home. The story behind this quirky cute store captured my heart and has quickly become my favorite place to explore in Celestial Park! Every time I visit, I find a new detail.
Envisioning Captain Cacao
While envisioning Captain Cacao, the Creative Design team worked closely with the Universal Products & Experiences team to create a character that would delight guests and fit perfectly into the story and theme behind the store. They thoughtfully designed his look and accessories, considering his role as a captain, his home in the candy store, and how he could appeal to families and children.
The result was an adorable, plush-sized dark chocolate teddy bear with a white chocolate star over his eye, an orange and gold shoulder sash, and a blue hat. The team then did the most iconic thing I can think of – they created a plush of him!
“It all starts with a download from our Creative team,” explains Jeanine Moriarty, brand manager. “They walked us through the storyline of Captain Cacao, as well as images of the retail location.”
From there, the Merchandise Product Development team takes notes, looks at past data, and brainstorms ideas for the types of products that could work. Then, they put together a creative brief outlining how many items they want to create, as well as visual inspiration for the kinds of products that would fit the brand and be interesting to guests.
The result? An entire collection of all-new products and packaging exclusive to Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, including a Captain Cacao plush, backpack, and bucket hat.
“It’s very exciting to see your vision come to life,” Jeanine says. “We see it all from concept to final sample. The best feeling is seeing our product live in the stores and then seeing it on people walking around. And of course, on social media. That’s what we love.”
Captain Cacao’s Story
The story behind how Captain Cacao landed in Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets begins with Maya of the Skies, a brilliant explorer born in Celestial Park.
“Maya is a young girl with a huge sweet tooth, so that’s really where it started,” Gina says. “She couldn’t find anything that she liked enough, so she started making sweets herself.”
In a mission to satisfy her cravings, she started searching the universe in hopes of finding the best ingredients and recipes to share and sell back home in Celestial Park. She travels on a moonship – the Marshmallow Airship Joei de Ganache – which is powered by floating marshmallow stars.
As a fellow sweet tooth girly, I think Maya and I would be besties. Personally, I’d love to compliment her on the Vegan Hazelnut Truffle Dark Chocolates.
“When you go inside Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, you’re inside Maya’s moonship and you can see the bottom half of Maya’s floating marshmallows going up to the ceiling,” Gina says. “Captain Cacao actually learned the skills to be a navigator so that he could travel with Maya.”
Bringing the Lore to Life for Guests
While the creation of Captain Cacao began with imaginative storytelling and thoughtful design, the lore truly comes alive through the team members at Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets. They are the heart of the experience, transforming the store into a living story guests can step into.
“The eagerness to share details about the Moonship and Captain Cacao paired with the genuine passion our team members have shines through in their interactions with the guests,” says Freddy, assistant merchandise manager.
From the moment guests step inside, they’re greeted as “explorers.” Team members play an active role in immersing guests in the narrative, sharing the tales of Maya and Captain Cacao and weaving in fun facts about the ingredients and recipes from their travels.
PRO TIP: Make sure to check out the case to the left side of the register when you’re in the store! There are so many cool artifacts from Maya and Captain Cacao’s adventures, including a map of where they’ve sourced some of their ingredients!
“When guests walk into Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, the most common reactions are astonishment and amazement,” says Freddy. “I don’t think that most guests expect to walk into an airship, let alone an airship candy store with more sweet treats than you could ever imagine would be in one space.”
Every detail, from the whimsical decor to the adorable merchandise, is part of a larger tapestry of storytelling. And when guests leave with a Captain Cacao plush or a treat inspired by Maya’s journey, they’re taking home more than a souvenir — they’re carrying a piece of the adventure.
Have you visited Moonship Chocolate & Celestial Sweets yet? Tell us what your favorite (or most anticipated) treat is in the comments!
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