The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Did you know that The Magic Carpets of Aladdin holds a special place in Disney history? It was actually the very first permanent Aladdin-themed ride in any Disney park! The Magic Carpets of Aladdin first graced the skies of Adventureland on May 23, 2001. The creation of this whimsical ride was prompted by a request from Disney CEO Michael Eisner himself. He wanted Imagineering to work their magic and create a ride based on the beloved animated film, “Aladdin”. At the same time, the park operators were looking for a way to ease the lines at the ever-popular Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Imagineer Jim Shull swooped in with a brilliant solution: a brand-new Aladdin-themed attraction. To accommodate more guests, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin’s ride vehicles were designed to carry four passengers each, doubling the capacity of Dumbo’s elephants. The Imagineers also drew inspiration from Dumbo’s signature move: the ability to control the height of the ride. They gave riders of The Magic Carpets of Aladdin the same ability to soar through the air. And for an extra touch of magic, they added a second joystick for back-row riders, allowing them to tilt the carpet left and right! Now, let’s talk about those mischievous spitting camels! You’ll encounter two of these golden pranksters near The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, originally featured in Aladdin’s Royal Caravan parade at Disney-MGM Studios. After the parade ended, these camels found a new home here in Adventureland, bringing laughter (and a little splash) to guests enjoying their magic carpet ride.