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Photos by Mike Kelly, 1993 |
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It’s a warm summer night in Yesterland. The year is 1993. You could have an ordinary dinner in the park, but consider the Aladdin’s Oasis dinner show instead. |
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You’ll sit below the massive limbs of a magnificent (though artificial) tree in a full-service, outdoor restaurant. While enjoying a delicious meal of semi-exotic delicacies, you’ll be entertained by a live show based on last year’s animated hit, Aladdin. |
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Photo by Doug Marsh, 1993 Setting up for the next seating |
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The price is $24.50 for adults and $19.50 for children ages 3 to 11. Yeah, that’s a lot. It’s almost as much as park admission. (A One Magic Day Pass is now $30 for adults and $24 for kids.) You can save $5.00 at lunch. Yes, this dinner show is not just at dinner. In fact, there are eight shows daily. The first seating is at 11 a.m. The last one isn’t until 10 p.m. |
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Photo by Doug Marsh, 1993 Tiger’s head from the Cave of Wonders |
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It’s a good thing you were able to book a reasonable time. On your way in, admire the beautiful Magic Carpet mosaic floor at the entrance and all the other recent improvements to this place. Look in front of you at the Cave of Wonders tiger head. But don’t look too closely behind you. There are thatched roofing and bamboo walls, as though this Arabian desert oasis used to be something tropical—perhaps a terrace in Tahiti. |
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Photo by Doug Marsh, 1993 The Three Wishes |
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The performance is starting. Kazim, the proprietor and master of ceremonies, welcomes you to his establishment, introduces you to the talent—his dancers, the Three Wishes; and his brother-in-law, Hassan. Perhaps, Kazim is expecting some other performers to drop by. After all, the name of his place is Aladdin’s Oasis. |
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Photo by Mary Cathey, 1993 “Street rat” Aladdin with a stolen loaf of bread |
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Sure enough, the fun begins when Aladdin attempts to escape from Jafar by ducking into Kazim’s place. A disguised Princess Jasmine sneaks in looking for Aladdin. Jafar captures her and uses his magical powers to make her disappear. Aladdin must free her, but that requires a magic lamp and the fabulous Genie of the Lamp. There’s music, magic, dancing, special effects, and comedy by Aladdin, Princess Jasmine, Jafar, Iago, the Three Wishes—and, of course, the Genie, featuring the recoded voice of Robin Williams. You might even become part of the show. Enjoy everything! |
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Photo by Mary Cathey, 1993 Aladdin’s rope slide |
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Photo by Doug Marsh, 1993 Sliding toward the dancers |
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Photo by Mary Cathey, 1993 Dancing with the dancers |
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Photo by Doug Marsh, 1993 Genie in the tiger’s mouth |
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Photo by Doug Marsh, 1993 Genie emerging |
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Photo by Mary Cathey, 1993 Genie at the Aladdin’s Oasis sign |
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Photo by Doug Marsh, 1993 Jafar and Iago |
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Photo by Mary Cathey, 1993 Prince Ali |
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Photo by Doug Marsh, 1993 Quite a spectacle |
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Photo by Doug Marsh, 1993 Shish-kebob dinner |
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As the show unfolded, your multi-course meal included papadam wafers with mint chutney sauce, fresh fruit with honey-yogurt sauce, shish-kebobs (beef, chicken, or vegetarian), raisin-nut rice pilaf, and tabbouleh. |
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Photo by Mary Cathey, 1993 Dessert |
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The Genie has big plans for your dessert—it’s not just the final course; it’s also a musical and theatrical production. Rub the brass lamp on your table, and make a wish. There’s a puff of smoke from your lamp, and a “genie” brings you a chocolate Aladdin’s lamp filled with mousse, atop a base of berry topping—while other “genies” serve other tables. What showmanship in Kazim’s establishment! |
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Based on Walt Disney Pictures’ animated feature Aladdin (U.S. release November 11, 1992), Aladdin’s Oasis opened in Disneyland’s Adventureland on July 2, 1993, replacing the beloved Tahitian Terrace. |
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Photo by Chris Bales, 1993 Construction wall: No more Polynesian dinner shows at the Tahitian Terrace |
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The Aladdin’s Oasis dinner show was the second Aladdin-themed show at Disneyland. the first was Aladdin’s Royal Caravan. During two partial summers and on selected weekend days between them, guests enjoyed the Aladdin’s Oasis feast and show. Unfortunately, the economics didn’t work out. The show was discontinued in August 1994. Disneyland found itself with an expensive Aladdin-themed dinner theater venue. In 1995, Aladdin’s Oasis continued to operate as a full-service restaurant on Disneyland’s busier days. Tables continued to have excellent sightlines to the stage, but, alas, the stage was empty. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 1998 Guarding the impressive entrance of the defunct dinner show |
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In 1996, Aladdin’s Oasis remained closed, except for occasional private events. In 1997, the facility became a venue for storytelling—Aladdin & Jasmine’s StoryTale Adventures—without any food service. |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2005 Theater style seating, not restaurant seating |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2005 Kazoo, the storyteller, playing one of several roles |
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In Jasmine’s StoryTale Adventures, Kazoo, the storyteller, would tell a simplified version of the movie’s plot, playing most of the roles—except for Aladdin and Jasmine. There was plenty of audience interaction to keep each 20-minute presentation fresh, with children from the audience invited to participate. |
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Photo by Chris Bales, 2008 “Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Stone Tiger” |
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In 2008, Aladdin’s Oasis became home to a show that had nothing to do with the Aladdin franchise. In “Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Stone Tiger,” the Cave of Wonders tiger, with the addition on some vines, served as the Stone Tiger. It was part of Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries promotion for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)—even though The Walt Disney Company would not buy Lucasfilm until 2018. |
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Photo by Allen Huffman 2017 Last hurrah as a restaurant in 2017 |
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For more than 20 years, Aladdin’s Oasis was used for storytelling, private events, and even as a restaurant—when it was used at all. Considering that Disneyland’s Adventureland is a such a small land, it was a shame that this valuable real estate was so often just closed. For way too long, Aladdin’s Oasis was wasted space. |
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Photo by Chris Bales, 2018 Coming soon! |
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Finally, someone at Disney had an excellent idea for the next chapter of this space. And the conversion was funded. |
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Photo by Chris Bales, 2018 Welcome to our Tropical Hideaway, you lucky people you! |
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The Tropical Hideaway opened Dec. 21, 2018. The Arabian entrance of Aladdin’s Oasis was gone, although the entrance’s Magic Carpet floor mosaic survived. The Cave of Wonders tiger was gone too. The South Seas look of the Tahitian Terrace was back. Instead of being closed off from the rest of Adventureland, it’s open to it. Instead of being a reminder of a failed dinner show, the space is now a delightful terrace for guests to enjoy bao, lumpia, cold beverages, and variations of Dole Whip. It’s a shame it took so long. |
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Photo by Chris Bales, 2022 Rosita from Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room at the Tropical Hideaway |
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Photo by Chris Bales, 2022 Homage to Aladdin’s Oasis |
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A hanging sign in a corner of the Tropical Hideaway offers “exotic lamp sales,” with “magic carpet” and “brass & silk” painted nearby. It’s homage to Aladdin’s Oasis, not an indication that it will ever return. |
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© 2023 Werner Weiss — Disclaimers, Copyright, and Trademarks Updated June 6, 2023 |
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