There is only one place in Walt Disney World where guests can soar high above the streets of Agrabah on a magic carpet and see the Magic Kingdom Park as a whole new world. The Magic Carpets of Aladdin allow guests to take to the skies in their very own flying carpet and channel Aladdin.
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin is based on the classic Disney animated feature film Aladdin that was released in 1992. When the film was released, it became an immediate hit with people of all ages, and it quickly began being incorporated into Walt Disney World’s theme parks. Aladdin’s Royal Caravan Parade ran until 1995 in what was then known as Disney-MGM Studios (the name officially changed to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2008). Featured in that parade were the spitting camels that can be found surrounding The Magic Carpets of Aladdin today. Once the parade ended, the camels were moved to the Soundstage Restaurant also in Disney-MGM Studios until it closed in 1998. Eventually the spitting camels made their way over to the Magic Kingdom for the May 24, 2001, opening of The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. In addition to the Magic Kingdom version, the carpets can also be found in Disneyland Paris’ Walt Disney Studios Park where they opened on March 16, 2002, as the Flying Carpets Over Agrabah as well as in Tokyo DisneySea where they opened on July 18, 2001, as Jasmine’s Flying Carpets.
The attraction is set up with a central hub topped by Genie’s magic lamp around which sixteen carpets rotate much like Dumbo the Flying Elephant in the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland and TriceraTop Spin in Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Dinoland. Guests can seat four at a time in two rows per carpet. The two guests in the front row of a carpet can utilize a lever to make their carpet soar either higher or lower whereas the two guests in the back can press a magical scarab to control whether the carpet tilts forwards or backwards. Once high in the air, guests can take in the sights including the surrounding Arabian marketplace modeled after Agrabah. Located in the marketplace, guests can find Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie taking pictures and signing autographs! Other great sights include the Jungle Cruise entrance plaza, Tikis, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, the entrance plaza of Pirates of the Caribbean, Aloha Isle, and the Swiss Family Treehouse.
My favorite time to experience The Magic Carpets of Aladdin is right after the Magic Kingdom opens. It’s always a quiet time in Adventureland as many guests rush off to Space Mountain in Tomorrowland or the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in New Fantasyland. Since Adventureland is so quiet, there is never a line for the attraction, and once you are up in the air you are treated to a quiet and serene view of a nearly empty Adventureland. To me, there’s almost no better way to start your day in the Magic Kingdom.
Next time you find yourself in Adventureland, you should definitely stop by The Magic Carpets of Aladdin and take to the skies in your own Arabian adventure! Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Aladdin and Jasmine as sometimes they can be spotted taking a trip on the carpets themselves!
(Photo from the author’s personal collection.)
Do you love The Magic Carpets of Aladdin? Like to ride it first thing in the morning like me? Ever seen Aladdin or Jasmine on board? Be sure to let me know by leaving a comment below, I would love to hear from you!
Caitlin Corsello was born and raised in New York. She graduated from Adelphi University with a Masters in Mental Health Counseling in 2012. Her love for Disney started as an infant and has continued to grow with family vacations to Disney parks almost every year since. She holds a particular interest in WDW’s parks and attractions, never passing up an opportunity to visit. She looks forward to continuing to explore and learn about all things Disney and to share that passion with readers.
