We all know that some advertisements might embellish, like a car salesman trying to pass a lemon off as a Benz. There is no false advertising in this statement: Aladdin is a musical spectacular!! Gigantic double exclamation marks and rock star jump!
Aladdin- A Musical Spectacular! sits at just to the edge of “a bug’s land”, juxtaposed to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and nestled under a glittering marquee in the Hyperion Theater. To say that this is a “musical spectacular” hits the nail right on the head.
The first time we decided to watch the show, the weather was heating up and we decided to cool down by taking in a show. After waiting in the line which is completely in the shade, we were ushered into our lovely comfortable plush seats in a larger-than-expected broadway-style theater. I quickly scanned the theater and was amazed at the size. Seating is in three levels: balcony (red), mezzanine (yellow) and orchestra (green).
We were very impressed— it was like walking into an oasis in the Sahara and for the next 30 to 40 minutes (approximately), we were whisked away to Agrabah and watched a Broadway-style production of Aladdin. All your favorite songs are in the performance with a beautiful new solo for Jasmine. I’ve caught myself (and Hubsters) singing along quietly with Aladdin and Jasmine. What keeps me coming back time after time is the brilliant, witty and always entertaining quips and cracks from the one and only Genie of the lamp! The Genie is like the icing on the cake. I’ll admit I was skeptical of seeing Aladdin without Mr. Robin WIlliams starring as the Genie, but the Genie is astonishing. The show is exactly like the characters leapt off the animators’ drawing boards and the Genie keeps the adults entertained with pop culture word plays, Disney drollery, and snappy smart cracks.
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| Seating Chart |
The first time we saw Aladdin- A Musical Spectacular!, we were on the balcony (the red level). The baby fell asleep for a much needed nap and Hubsters and I were entertained and enthralled. Being in the balcony does nothing to take away from the magic of the show.
The second time we saw it, we asked one of the ushers where would be a good spot in case we needed to make a quick exit for the baby. We were directed to the back left corner in the orchestra. If you were on the stage facing the audience we were in deep left orchestra field. As soon as we sat down, my worries about Dash bothering anyone dissipated as the carpets on the floor and walls muffled any unwanted sound. I was slightly worried that we wouldn’t have a clear view but I was wrong again; we still had a great view of the stage. Dash started to fuss a little and so I was able to stand in the back, bouncing the babe. We still got to see the whole show.
Our third visit we got to sit in my new favorite spot: orchestra center field. It’s great for Dash because he can still see the action, isn’t distracted by the heads in front of him, and feel like he has a solid barrier between himself and the stage.
For our most recent visit, we were seated on the Mezzanine. We could still see everything that was going on and the show was just as spectacular as ever. The only spot I would avoid sitting is actually on the orchestra level in the sections closest to the stage. You do get to see everything a little more up close and personal, but miss out on seeing some characters and surprises that might come visit the audience during the show.
My son, Scoop, loves it and claps along with the music. In fact, this was Scoop’s first introduction to Aladdin and now he asks to watch it at home.
If you are worried about your children and live theater, I wouldn’t worry. I highly recommend going to this show and count this as a must for your visit to Disney California Adventure. It’s also a great introduction to live theater—favorite and lovable Disney characters not on a screen but singing, dancing real people characters. It’s that extra bit of Disney magic for kids of all ages. At the end of the performance, the lights go on and you’ll feel a slight disappointment at having to get up and leave your seat.
We’ve seen it at least four times and I always look forward to the next time we’ll decide to visit Agrabah and the magic lamp.
Special needs: Most of these notifications are based on the sensitivities of the Autism Spectrum as that is what I am familiar with. Due to Dash’s special needs we have special assistance with waiting time in the lines. Just speak to the friendly ushers before you enter the lines for the show. You’ll want to talk to the Cast Members in the kiosk, under the awning, by the line entrance area and next to stroller parking. We’ve shown them our guest assistance card and when we have, we’ve been led to a less crowded waiting area and are among the first to be allowed into the theater. The Cast Members are very helpful and there are lots of different ways they can help. Once in our seats, we employ different techniques that work for Dash to waiting in a seat. We often give him one of our iPhones or iPod touches, or a favorite toy car as a calming device. Sometimes we’d walk the stairs from one level to another and then scoot to our seats right before the show started. He then waits (sometimes patiently and sometimes not so patiently) and then when the show starts we take the toy away. At this point, his hands immediately fly to his ears and says, “It’s too loud.”
As far as noise levels, in my opinion, it’s not that bad. I personally don’t like high decibel levels (like in the movie theater) and Dash is sensitive to noise level. Other shows such as Phineas and Ferb, Heroes in Training, and Disney Dance Crew! are actually louder decibel wise. As far as Aladdin-A Musical Spectacular! goes, I think what he’s trying to communicate is other sensory issues like (SPOILER WARNING) the Genie’s arrival out of the lamp, the guards chasing Aladdin, Jafar and Iago’s man-to-bird dialogue, or the smoke special effects. Most especially, the Cave of Wonders which is right at the start of the show. The older that Dash has gotten, the better he can sit through the performance. Recently, he’ll cover his ears the whole time (even though it’s not that loud). I think he’s nervous, mostly of the Cave of Wonders. Though it is important to note, he’s never gone in full freak-out mode. If your child is sensitive to noise, you may wish to consider bringing ear plugs or picking some up at Disney California Adventure park’s first aid office.
Other possible sensory issues that come in special effects in the show are smoke, very slight and non-intrusive character proximity (only a concern if you are sitting in the orchestra section), confetti on the stage and use of suspended actors rising up and down from the stage to the stop of the stage.
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