ATTRACTION REVIEW : Rolling Out the Magic Carpet : The New Aladdin’s Oasis Restaurant in Disneyland Is a Marketing Mimic of the Movie

On the premise that when it comes to a goodthing, there’s no such thing as too much, Disneyland on Thursday unveiled Aladdin’s Oasis, a themed in-park restaurantbuilt around the hit animated film.

The restaurant and show--presented eight times daily--fihls the gastronomic, if not entertainment, needs unfulfilled by the “Aladdin” movie, soundtrack album, forthcoming home video, pencils, buttons, action figures, coloring books, T-shirts, neckties, swimwear, sheets and pillowcases. Everything, it would seem, short of “Aladdin” toilet tissue.

Inspiration for Aladdin’s Oasis came easily: Disney folks watched many of their patrons exit the park to dine at such themed culinary establishments as Medieval Times and Wild Bill’s Western Extravaganza in Buena Park and decided to try to stake out a piece of the action.

So they refitted Adventureland’s Tahitian Terrace--the site of South Seas-inspired food and entertainment since 1962--as a Persian nightclub of olde. Tahitian Terrace habitues will find the new room familiar; it’s been given a face lift, not rebuilt from the ground up. Some thatched-palm roofing is still visible.

But then, this isn’t meant to be anything close to an authentic cultural experience. It’s a way to further exploit the popularity of the Aladdin story and characters, and on that count, it succeeds. It doesn’t dazzle with ambitious special effects like the evening “Fantasmic!” production, but then “Fantasmic!” doesn’t come with a fruit cup.

A one-hour show is staged in segments during the meal’s three courses: a fruit cup appetizer, shish kebab main course (choice of beef, chicken or vegetable) and dessert. (So what if the pappadum wafers and accompanying mint chutney sauce are more Indian than Persian?)

The show’s premise is simple: Aladdin ducks into the club attempting to escape the evil Jafar and his henchmen, who soon follow him in; an incognito Princess Jasmine enters to find Aladdin but is captured by Jafar, who makes her disappear during an exhibition of his magical powers. It’s Aladdin’s job to free her, which he does--but only with the aid of the magic lamp and, of course, the Genie.

Given that the unique talents of Robin Williams define the charm of the film Genie, it’s no surprise that this show relies on snippets of film dialogue using Williams’ voice. In fact, a good portion of the show is done to prerecorded tracks, some directly from the film, some not.

In this show, there’s a whole lot of lip-syncin’ goin’ on.

Kids, at whom this half-vaudeville, half-Disney comedy is aimed, don’t seem to mind. The toddlers behind me called out names of the characters as each appeared--”Jafar! . . . Iagooooooo!”--with the enthusiasm of celebrity gawkers on Oscar night.

The production may mollify some critics of the film who say it stereotypes Arabs--particularly the song “Arabian Nights”--but only partially so. When they sing it at Oasis, a trio of female singers dubbed “The Three Wishes,” modeled largely on TV’s “I Dream of Jeannie,” leave out a controversial lyric that describes the mythical Arabic town of Agrabah: “where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face.”

But they leave intact the line: “It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.” All just in good fun, no doubt.

Most of the show, however, is just good, inordinately silly fun. Kazim, the ostensible owner of Aladdin’s Oasis and his stand-up comic associate Hassan get to deliver lots of bad puns just like those in the neighboring Tiki-tiki-tiki-tiki-tiki room. And they incorporate other songs from the film, including “One Jump,” “Prince Ali,” “Friend Like Me” and the obligatory saccharine ballad “A Whole New World.” All appear to be mimed to the recorded versions from the film.

You don’t expect Tennessee Williams--or even Stephen Sondheim--at a dinner show.

The price is $24.50 for adults and $19.50 for children ages 3 to 11 (knock $5 off for the lunch prices). You can spend more in the park’s Blue Bayou restaurant in New Orleans Square, where dinners run as high as $32, appetizers and dessert not included. Still, with park admission now at $30 for adults and $24 for kids, it’s possible for a family of four to spend more than $200 just getting through the gate and dining with Aladdin.

That dinner does offer a generously portioned kebab, served over Persian-style nut-raisin rice pilaf and accompanied by vegetables and a spicy tabbouleh .

The only thing missing was “Aladdin” toothpicks.

*Aladdin’s Oasis offers eight seatings daily beginning at 11 a.m. Lunch is $19.50 for adults, $14.50 for children 3 to 11; dinner, with seatings beginning at 3:45 and as late as 10 p.m., is $24.50 for adults, $19.50 for children. Meals are in addition to park admission of $24 to $30. Disneyland is at 1313 Harbor Blvd., Anaheim. (714) 999-4000.