|
|||
Photo by Chris Bales, 2015 |
|||
|
Watto has a grotto, and you’re about to enter it. You might be asking, “Who is Watto?” |
|||
 |
|||
|
Watto is a Star Wars character introduced in Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999). He has the nose of an elephant seal, the feet of a frog, and wings disproportionate to his body size. According to Disney’s official Star Wars website: Watto was a Toydarian junk dealer in Mos Espa who bought Shmi Skywalker and her son Anakin from Gardulla the Hutt. An inveterate gambler, he sponsored Anakin in several Podraces, but often bet against his own slave, who was talented but inexperienced. Watto lost Anakin to Qui-Gon Jinn in a wager on the Boonta Eve race. Years later, he sold Shmi to the moisture farmer Cliegg Lars. If you’re a real Star Wars fan, you already knew that. If not, it probably makes no sense. What really matters is that Watto and Grotto rhyme—more or less, depending on the region where you live—and that this is a store, not an actual grotto. Watto sells things, both in the movie and at the store. |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Directions on a steel girder |
|||
|
Head to the Studio Catering Co. and look for the steel girder with the directional arrow. Despite the angle of the arrow, you only have to go left, not up. Watto’s Grotto is off the beaten path. This corner of the park was busier when the Studio Backlot Tour ended outside the building, but that was before Watto’s Grotto existed. Look for the T-47 Airspeeder in the landscaping. That will mean you’ve arrived. |
|||
Photo by Chris Bales, 2015 T-47 Airspeeder from The Empire Strikes Back |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Door to Watto’s Grotto next to the T-47 Airspeeder |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 The more stylish sliding door entrance to Watto’s Grotto |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 T-shirts, mugs, and toys |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Star Wars props to give the store some Star Wars atmosphere |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Plenty of floor space |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Very few customers |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Star Wars fashion |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 “Build and customize your own lightsaber” |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 For fans of Kylo Ren |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Vinylmation, of course |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016
The Star Wars Cook Book: Wookie Cookies |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Dooney & Bourke Star Wars purse, $268 |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Star Wars boxer shorts |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 C3PO Women’s Flats |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 BB-8 Rice Krispies Treats |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Rice Krispies Treats, ingredients and nutrition |
|||
Photo by Chris Bales, 2015 Checkout counter |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Lonely cast member waiting for guests in the empty store |
|||
|
Visiting Watto’s Grotto is not the most exciting Star Wars experience. Too bad there’s not a time machine here. The site of Watto’s Grotto will be part of a spectacular Star Wars experience in the not-too-distant future. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
The version of Watto’s Grotto shown in this Yesterland article opened in early September 2015 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There had been previous Watto’s Grotto pop-up stores during Star Wars Weekends at the park. |
|||
Photo by Chris Bales, 2000 T-47 Airspeeder, when it was at Star Tours |
|||
Photo by Chris Bales, 2000 AFI Showcase |
|||
|
The T-47 Airspeeder at the entrance to Watto’s Grotto had originally been in front of Star Tours at the same park. From 1996 to 2014, the building had been home to the American Film Institute (AFI) Showcase and the Showcase Shop. The large exhibit building at end of the Studio Backlot Tour housed several different AFI exhibits over the years. The building wasn’t being used for anything else, and it was scheduled to be demolished in 2016. It made sense to use the empty building for Star Wars merchandise, even though it was much bigger than it needed to be and Tatooine Traders was at the other end of the street. |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2018 Future entrance to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge from Grand Avenue |
|||
|
Streets of America at Disney’s Hollywood Studios closed permanently April 2, 2016, for the construction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. And that was also the end of Watto’s Grotto. |
|||
|
|
Click here to post comments at MiceChat about this article.
© 2019 Werner Weiss — Disclaimers, Copyright, and Trademarks Updated December 6, 2019. |
||
