When it comes to the grand opening of theme parks, anticipation often reaches fever pitch. Fans eagerly wait to experience new attractions, enjoy delicious meals, and, of course, get their hands on exclusive merchandise.
Universal’s upcoming Epic Universe park, set to open in just a few weeks, has been generating buzz for its exciting new lands and attractions, such as SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk.
Related: Epic Universe is Showing Disney World How It’s Done
However, it’s not just the rides and immersive environments that have been drawing attention — there’s a serious demand for the park’s exclusive merchandise. Unfortunately, this has led to an unexpected twist, with some of the most popular items selling out much sooner than anticipated.
Epic Universe was first announced back in 2019, with an opening timeline initially set for 2023. However, due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Universal was forced to push the opening back to 2025.
Now, just one month before the grand opening, fans are eagerly awaiting their chance to explore the new park, and many of them are hoping to take home some of the exclusive items only available at Epic Universe.
Related: $500 to Enter? Universal’s Epic Universe Pricing Leaves Fans Stunned
But, much to their disappointment, the park’s most coveted merchandise has already sold out.
The tweet, which was shared by Universal insiders, broke the news that the highly anticipated Captain Cacao plush — a character from the new Celestial Park area of Epic Universe — is already sold out. The park will not have its official grand opening until next month.
BREAKING: Rumors are swirling that Captain Cacao plushies have sold out until August/September at the earliest 😬😬😬
THE PARK ISN’T EVEN OPEN YET 😂😂😂
BREAKING: Rumors are swirling that Captain Cacao plushies have sold out until August/September at the earliest 😬😬😬
THE PARK ISN’T EVEN OPEN YET 😂😂😂
(📸- @SpeculationMatt ) pic.twitter.com/AuBZvR0QCn
— Wallin Ballin (@wallin_ballin) April 19, 2025
Captain Cacao, a chocolate bear who serves as the beloved sidekick to Maya the Explorer, has captured the hearts of fans even before the park’s official opening. As a key character in one of the park’s most enchanting lands, the Captain Cacao plush was expected to be a fan favorite. And with the plush now sold out, it seems demand has far exceeded expectations.
Many fans who were eagerly waiting for the opportunity to purchase the plush are now left disappointed, with the plush expected to remain out of stock until late summer — at the earliest. The plushies were so popular that, in anticipation of their initial release, Epic Universe team members had to pull them from the shelves to ensure there would be enough stock for the upcoming Annual Passholder previews.
Despite these efforts, the demand quickly outpaced the available supply.
For fans hoping to snag one of these plushes during the park’s opening, it’s bad news. The Captain Cacao plush will not be available again until at least August or September, much to the chagrin of many who were hoping to purchase the item on their first visit to the park.
Given that the plush is tied to a newly introduced character and the highly anticipated Celestial Park, this early sellout is causing a stir among Universal enthusiasts.
Single-day tickets and ticket packages for Epic Universe are currently on sale. The park will celebrate its official opening on May 22.
What are your thoughts on the Captain Cacao plush selling out before the park even opens? Do you think this could be a sign of things to come with Epic Universe merchandise? Are you planning to visit the park on opening day, or do you already have your eye on other exclusive items? Let us know in the comments below!
