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“Know this: only one may enter here, one whose worth lies far within. A diamond in the rough.”
―The Cave of Wonders' warning about entering
The Cave of Wonders is a location in the animated film, Aladdin. It is a hidden cavern filled with vast riches and magical artifacts, most notably, the genie's magic lamp. The cave can only be entered by an individual whose "worth lies far within"—the diamond in the rough. Those who make attempts to enter, otherwise, will be killed almost instantly if they do not heed the warning they are given upon their first attempt to enter. To keep these laws intact, and unworthy thieves away from the powerful riches that lie within, the entrance to the cave is protected by a sand guardian with the shape of a tiger's head.
In the original film, the cave is visited at the very beginning by Jafar, Iago, and a thief named Gazeem. The location of the cave was revealed using a mystical golden Scarab Beetle, which also helped form the cave. Jafar orders Gazeem to go inside the Cave to retrieve the magical lamp. The Cave's tiger head warns the visitors that only one may enter, referred to as the Diamond in the Rough. Jafar and Gazeem don't quite understand what he means, so Jafar decides to order Gazeem to go in again. Gazeem hesitantly makes one step inside. When everything seems to be safe, the Cave suddenly roars and violently shuts its mouth, killing Gazeem and vanishing back into the sand, leaving the scarab halves to roll down the hill as it repeats that only the "Diamond in the Rough" may enter. Jafar then realizes he must find the Diamond in the Rough.
Back at the palace, Jafar takes the Sultan's mystic blue diamond ring in order to power his device. The device shows just who the Diamond in the Rough is: the cunning street rat Aladdin. Jafar orders the guards to capture Aladdin and take him to the Palace's prison. There Jafar, disguised as an ugly elderly beggar, takes Aladdin and Abu to the Cave. Aladdin identifies himself to the Cave, which allows him to enter, but warns him not to touch anything except for the lamp.
Aladdin and Abu successfully enter the cave, where they are tempted by the vast Forbidden Treasure, though Aladdin remembers the warning not to touch them. They come across a Magic Carpet, who offers to help and takes them to the back chamber where the lamp is located. As Aladdin climbs upstairs on a tall rock formation surrounded by water to retrieve the lamp, Abu spots a large ruby held by a monkey idol, and is overcome with temptation. Despite the Carpet's best efforts to stop him and Aladdin telling him to stop the moment he himself retrieves the lamp, Abu seizes the ruby, and the Cave's voice angrily says that Aladdin and Abu will die for violating its warning. Abu sheepishly puts the ruby back, but then the ruby and monkey idol melt into lava, which turns the cave’s water into lava, then the entire cave fills itself with lava. Aladdin and Abu nearly escape with the help of the Carpet, but are thrown down by Jafar, who thought he had stolen the lamp. The cave, after pained bellows, then dissolves with Aladdin, Abu, and Carpet still inside.
Inside the cave, it is revealed that Abu stole the lamp back from Jafar. Genie is released and frees them from their prison (also tricking Genie into granting a free wish in the process).
At the end of the film, the Cave of Wonders reforms when Genie sends Jafar's Lamp with Jafar and Iago inside to it for them to endure 10,000 years of imprisonment.
In the series House of Mouse, the Cave seems to be transportation for Jafar and Iago.
In the episode "Donald's Lamp Trade", the cave's voice was heard calling Donald an infidel when he tried to make off with a crate of forbidden treasure. The cave itself was also featured in the sponsor at the end of the episode.
The Cave of Wonders is first seen during the musical number "Arabian Nights" where Jafar sends a person to find him a magical lamp, but is unsuccessful, getting eaten by the cave just like in the animated film. Unlike in the animated film, the entrance's iteration is depicted with a lion's head instead of a tiger. It is located on a rocky hill instead of being risen from the sand formed by the two pieces of the Golden Scarab Beetle for its eyes.
When Aladdin is tasked to find the lamp as ordered by Jafar to make him rich (this time not disguised as an elderly beggar) the Cave of Wonders then accepts him as he is described as the "Diamond in the Rough". Before Aladdin enters, it is Jafar instead of the cave who warns him not to touch anything inside except the lamp. Just like in the animated film, Aladdin successfully finds the lamp, but Abu then touches a ruby (albeit by accident instead of intentionally out of greed like in the animated film) despite Aladdin telling him not to, causing the cave to collapse; however, the ruby he touched was not from the monkey idol holding it, but one of the rubies along the way. When Aladdin, Abu, and Carpet are ready to escape, Aladdin hands Jafar the lamp, but successfully almost causes Aladdin to fall to his demise, still with Abu defending him from Jafar. After the cave has collapsed with Aladdin, Abu, and Carpet trapped inside, the entrance, however, does not melt unlike in the animated film, but with the light dimmed out. Like in the animated film, Aladdin rubs the lamp to get his wish from the Genie in which he grants him to help the three escape.
Like in the animated version at the end of the film, when Jafar and Iago are both trapped in the lamp and Agrabah is restored to normal, the Genie sends Jafar's lamp far into the Cave of Wonders.
Video Games[]
Aladdin[]
In all versions of the Aladdin video game, the Cave of Wonders is featured as a level.
The Cave of Wonders also appears in Nasira's Revenge as a location, requiring the use of the Scarab to enter it.
The Cave makes an appearance as a location within the Agrabah world and is fought as a boss in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts coded. In the first game, Sora, Aladdin, Donald, and Goofy fight it after it was taken over by the Heartless and tried to destroy them. Once they destroy the dark power's source, which is located in his eyes (reached by climbing up its neck or by leaping onto its face when it's buried in the dirt), the guardian returns to being an entrance to the Cave of Wonders and continues to be so throughout the series. The tiger reacts neither to their entrance into the cave nor touching the treasure within the cave.
In Kingdom Hearts II, Sora, Donald, and Goofy enter the cave for treasure to buy Jafar's lamp from the peddler. Once again, the tiger does not object to their quest or entrance.
The Cave of Wonders was a backdrop for the stage at Aladdin's Oasis. During the Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries event, the Cave of Wonders served as the setting for the "Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Stone Tiger" stunt show.
In World of Color, Cave of Wonders appears as part of the background in the Aladdin sequence's rendition of "A Whole New World".
In Fantasmic!, the cave is summoned by Jafar in an attempt to kill Mickey Mouse during Mickey's imprisonment. Inside the cave, Jafar transforms into a snake and attempts to eat Mickey. Mickey then finds the lamp who he believes is Genie's, but the lamps end up transforming Jafar into a genie.
At DisneyQuest, Cave of Wonders served as a gateway into the Explore Zone, which was home to the Aladdin Virtual Magic Carpet attraction.
Disney Fanon Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Cave of Wonders.
Trivia[]
Strangely, in most of its appearances, the Cave retains its dark blue color regardless of the time of day.
Frank Welker based the voice of the Cave of Wonders on Sean Connery, though he has used the voice before.
In The Return of Jafar, a statue of the Tiger God of the Cave of Wonders is seen in Abis Mal's lair. Later, Jafar and Iago were seen in the desert where the Cave is located after somehow escaping from it.
Though the Cave itself is not seen, it is mentioned in the Aladdin episode "Shadow of a Doubt", when the gang are going to a cave of mirrors to find something to stop Mirage. Iago recalls the event of Abu's mistake when he says; "Don't let him touch anything! Remember the Cave of Wonders incident," which makes Abu snarl and jabber with anger.
Sequels:Abis Mal • Abis Mal's Thugs • Cassim • Sa'Luk • Forty Thieves • The Oracle TV Series:Sadira • Merc • Queen Hippsodeth • Scara • King Pector • The Mukhtar • King Mamood • Eden • Sultan Pasta Al-Dente • Dhandi • Hamed • Pharabu • Prince Uncouthma • General Gouda • Brawnhilda • Bud • Runta • Thundra • Queen Kimbla • Brisbane • Koala Kid • Machana • Fasir • Riders of Ramond • Samir the "Destroyer" • Squirt • Captain Al Bahtross • Prince Wazoo • Ajed Al-Gebraic • Amal • Abnor Mal • Mechanicles • Scooter • Marauders • Zorasto • Mozenrath • Xerxes • Khartoum • Sirocco • Shaman • Mirage • Haroud Hazi Bin • Fashoom • Saleen • Armand • Ayam Aghoul • Evil Aladdin • Caliph Kapok • Sootinai • Daru Tavelevil • Malcho • Dominus Tusk • Al Muddy Sultan • Al Muddy • Aziz • Minos and Fatima • Nefir Hasenuf • Nefir's Imps • Arbutus • Magma • Amuk Moonrah • Chaos • Evil Genie • Scourge of the Desert • Amin Damoola • Frigeed • Anubis • Sahkata, Razili, and Farida • Sand Monster • Sand Shark • Mothias • Ding and Oopo • Queen Deluca • King Zahbar • Queen Deluca's Brothers • The Great Rift • Mamluks • Kileem • The Ethereal • Zin and Zang • Kutato • Unkbuut • Destane Enchanted Tales:Aneesa • Hakeem • Sahara • Sharma Video game characters:Nasira • Bizarrah • Very Ankh-Amman Deleted Characters:Zena • Genie of the Ring • Jasmine's Mother • Babkak, Omar, and Kassim Remake:Aladdin • Jasmine • Genie • Jafar • Abu • Iago • Magic Carpet • The Sultan • Dalia
Episodes
Season One:Getting the Bugs Out • Mudder's Day • Fowl Weather • The Prophet Motive • Much Abu About Something • My Fair Aladdin • To Cure a Thief • Never Say Nefir • Raiders of the Lost Shark
Season Two: "Air Feather Friends" • "Bad Mood Rising" • "Do the Rat Thing" • "The Vapor Chase" • "Garden of Evil" • "Some Enchanted Genie" • "Web of Fear" • "Plunder the Sea" • "Strike Up the Sand" • "Sneeze the Day" • "I Never Mechanism I Didn't Like" • "Forget Me Lots" • "Scare Necessities" • "SandSwitch" • "Lost and Founded" • "Moonlight Madness" • "The Flawed Couple" • "Rain of Terror" • "Dune Quixote" • "That Stinking Feeling" • "The Day the Bird Stood Still" • "Of Ice and Men" • "Opposites Detract" • "Caught by the Tale" • "Elemental, My Dear Jasmine" • "Beast or Famine" • "Smolder and Wiser" • "The Game" • "Poor Iago" • "The Spice is Right" • "The Animal Kingdom" • "Power to the Parrot" • "The Sands of Fate" • "Hero with a Thousand Feathers" • "The Citadel" • "Snowman is an Island" • "The Secret of Dagger Rock" • "In the Heat of the Fright" • "Witch Way Did She Go?" • "The Seven Faces of Genie" • "The Wind Jackals of Mozenrath" • "A Clockwork Hero" • "Mission: Imp Possible" • "Stinker Belle" • "Sea No Evil" • "Shadow of a Doubt" • "Smells Like Trouble" • "The Way We War" • "Night of the Living Mud" • "Egg-stra Protection" • "A Sultan Worth His Salt" • "Heads, You Lose" • "The Love Bug" • "When Chaos Comes Calling" • "Genie Hunt" • "Armored and Dangerous" • "The Lost Ones" • "Eye of the Beholder" • "Shark Treatment" • "Black Sand" • "Love at First Sprite" • "Vocal Hero" • "The Lost City of the Sun" • "As the Netherworld Turns" • "Seems Like Old Crimes" • "From Hippsodeth, with Love" • "Destiny on Fire" • "The Return of Malcho" Season Three: "The Hunted" • "Riders Redux" • "The Book of Khartoum" • "While the City Snoozes" • "Two to Tangle" • "The Ethereal" • "The Shadow Knows" • "The Great Rift"
Locations
Agrabah • Cave of Wonders • The Sultan's Palace • The Vanishing Isle • Odiferous • Morbia • Old Wizard's Lab
Objects
Golden Scarab Beetle • Jafar's Snake Staff • Genie's Lamp • Jafar's Lamp • Eden's Bottle • Mozenrath's Gauntlet • Crystal of Ix • Blue Rose of Forgetfulness • Tree of Renewal • Emerald of Khufu • Cassim's Dagger • The Oracle's Scythe • Hand of Midas
The Return of Jafar:I'm Looking Out for Me • Nothing in the World (Quite Like a Friend) • Forget About Love • You're Only Second Rate King of Thieves:Party in Agrabah • Out of Thin Air • Welcome to the Forty Thieves • Father and Son • Are You In or Out? Enchanted Tales:More Than a Peacock Princess • I've Got My Eyes on You Deleted:Humiliate the Boy • Proud of Your Boy • Why Me? • You Count on Me • Call Me a Princess • Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim • How Quick They Forget • High Adventure • My Finest Hour • To Be Free • Desert Moon Broadway:A Million Miles Away • These Palace Walls • Somebody's Got Your Back • Diamond in the Rough Remake:Speechless
Original Worlds:Destiny Islands • Traverse Town • Radiant Garden/Hollow Bastion • Disney Castle/Disney Town/Timeless River • Dive to the Heart • End of the World • Realm of Darkness • Twilight Town/Mysterious Tower • The World That Never Was • Castle That Never Was • Land of Departure/Castle Oblivion • Keyblade Graveyard • Daybreak Town/Scala ad Caelum
Season One:Emma Swan • Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard • Prince Charming/David Nolan • Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold/Weaver • Evil Queen/Regina Mills/Roni • Belle French/Lacey • Henry Mills • Happy • Sneezy/Mr. Clark • Bashful • Doc • Dopey • Sleepy/Walter • Jiminy Cricket/Archie Hopper • Lady Tremaine • Stealthy • Victor Frankenstein/Dr. Whale • Blue Fairy/Mother Superior • Widow Lucas/Granny • King George/Albert Spencer • Genie/Magic Mirror/Sidney Glass • Nurse Ratched • Mad Hatter/Jefferson • Prince Henry Mills • Knave of Hearts • Sheriff of Nottingham/Keith • Fairy Godmother • Abigail/Kathryn Nolan • Red Riding Hood/Ruby • Huntsman/Sheriff Graham • Baelfire/Neal Cassidy • Pinocchio/August W. Booth • Frederick/Jim • Severe Nurse • Mayor Tomkins • Hansel and Gretel/Nicholas and Ava Zimmer • The Woodcutter/Michael Tillman • Martin • Myrna • Stephen • Donna • Prince James • Blind Witch (Enchanted Forest) • Peter • Siren • Pongo • Gaston • The King/Mitchell Herman • King Leopold • King Midas • Zoso • Prince Thomas/Sean Herman • Grace • Daniel Colter • Nova • Briar Rose • Geppetto/Marco • Gus/Billy • Ruth • Dark One Season Two:Killian Jones/Captain Hook • Aurora • Prince Phillip • Mulan • Milah • Maid Marian • Quinn • Anita Lucas • Jack • King Xavier • Anton • William Smee • Greg Mendell • Tamara • The Dragon • Queen Eva • Seer • Lancelot • Wendy Darling • Nana • Mary Darling • George Darling • John Darling • Michael Darling • The Shadow • Felix • Raven Season Three:Malcolm/Peter Pan • Ariel • Zelena/The Wicked Witch of the West • Glinda • Walsh/Wizard of Oz • Elsa the Snow Queen • Tinker Bell • Lumiere • Blackbeard • Ursula the Sea Goddess • Jonathan • Dorothy Gale • The Witch of the East • Rapunzel • Rapunzel's Mother • Rapunzel's Father • The Sheriff of Hamelin • Medusa • Prince Eric • Liam Jones • Roland Season Four:Anna • Kristoff • Hans • Grand Pabbie • Sven • Ursula the Sea Witch • Marshmallow • Little Bo Peep • The Apprentice • Ingrid • Lily Page • Colette • Oaken • King of Arendelle • Queen Gerda • Cruella De Vil • Poseidon • Hans' Brothers • Chernabog • King Stefan • Isaac/The Author • Madeline • Merlin/The Sorcerer Season Five:Merida • Queen Elinor • King Fergus • Captain Silver • Harris, Hubert, and Hamish • The Witch • Lord Macintosh • King Arthur • Sir Kay • Guinevere • Gorgon The Invincible • Charon • Brennan Jones • Hades • Megara • Hercules • Zeus • Cerberus • The Scarecrow • Toto • Cleo Fox • Auntie Em • Dr. Jekyll • Mr. Hyde • Evil Queen Season Six:Aladdin • Gideon • Count of Monte Cristo • Alexandra • Jasmine • Red Bird • Captain Nemo • Clorinda • Tisbe • Jacob • Oracle • Royal Guards • The Sultan • Beowulf • Black Fairy • Killian Jones/Hook/Rogers • Tiger Lily • Robert • Prince Achmed • Stanum • Cowardly Lion • Lucy • Robin of Locksley Season Seven:Rapunzel Tremaine/Victoria Belfrey • Cinderella/Jacinda Vidrio • Tiana/Sabine • Isla • Robin Hood/Margot • Alice/Tilly • Drizella/Ivy Belfrey • Anastasia • Gothel/Eloise Gardener • Eudora • Dr. Facilier/Mr. Samdi • Hansel/Jack/Nick Branson • Marcus Tremaine • Cecelia • Madame Leota • Naveen/Drew • Blind Witch/Hilda Braeuburn • Gretel • Chad • Seraphina • Flora • Isla • Zorro • Fairy Godmother • Prince • Prince Naveen/Drew
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland:Alice • Cyrus • Anastasia/Red Queen • Percy the White Rabbit • Edwin • Jabberwocky • Silvermist • The Sultan/The Old Prisoner • Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum • Mrs. Rabbit • Elizabeth/Lizard • Amara • Bandersnatch • Millie • Cheshire Cat
Both series:Will Scarlet/The Knave of Hearts • Cinderella/Ashley Boyd • Robin Hood • Little John • Friar Tuck • Grumpy/Leroy • Cora/The Queen of Hearts • Caterpillar • Maleficent • Jafar • Dr. Lydgate
Episodes
Season One: "Pilot" • "The Thing You Love Most" • "Snow Falls" • "The Price of Gold" • "That Still Small Voice" • "The Shepherd" • "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" • "Desperate Souls" • "True North" • "7:15 A.M." • "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" • "Skin Deep" • "What Happened to Frederick" • "Dreamy" • "Red-Handed" • "Heart of Darkness" • "Hat Trick" • "The Stable Boy" • "The Return" • "The Stranger" • "An Apple Red as Blood" • "A Land Without Magic"
Season Two: "Broken" • "We Are Both" • "Lady of the Lake" • "The Crocodile" • "The Doctor" • "Tallahassee" • "Child of the Moon" • "Into the Deep" • "Queen of Hearts" • "The Cricket Game" • "The Outsider" • "In the Name of the Brother" • "Tiny" • "Manhattan" • "The Queen Is Dead" • "The Miller's Daughter" • "Welcome to Storybrooke" • "Selfless, Brave and True" • "Lacey" • "The Evil Queen" • "Second Star to the Right" • "And Straight On 'Til Morning" Season Three: "The Heart of the Truest Believer" • "Lost Girl" • "Quite a Common Fairy" • "Nasty Habits" • "Good Form" • "Ariel" • "Dark Hollow" • "Think Lovely Thoughts" • "Save Henry" • "The New Neverland" • "Going Home" • "New York City Serenade" • "Witch Hunt" • "The Tower" • "Quiet Minds" • "It's Not Easy Being Green" • "The Jolly Roger" • "Bleeding Through" • "A Curious Thing" • "Kansas" • "Snow Drifts" • "There's No Place Like Home" Season Four: "A Tale of Two Sisters" • "White Out" • "Rocky Road" • "The Apprentice" • "Breaking Glass" • "Family Business" • "The Snow Queen" • "Smash the Mirror" • "Fall" • "Shattered Sight" • "Heroes and Villains" • "Darkness on the Edge of Town" • "Unforgiven" • "Enter the Dragon" • "Poor Unfortunate Soul" • "Best Laid Plans" • "Heart of Gold" • "Sympathy for the De Vil" • "Lily" • "Mother" • "Operation Mongoose" Season Five: "The Dark Swan" • "The Price" • "Siege Perilous" • "The Broken Kingdom" • "Dreamcatcher" • "The Bear and the Bow" • "Birth" • "The Bear King" • "Broken Heart" • "Swan Song" • "Souls of the Departed" • "Labor of Love" • "Devil's Due" • "The Brothers Jones" • "Our Decay" • "Her Handsome Hero" • "Ruby Slippers" • "Sisters" • "Firebird" • "Last Rites" • "Only You" • "An Untold Story" Season Six: "The Savior" • "A Bitter Draught" • "The Other Shoe" • "Strange Case" • "Street Rats" • "Dark Waters" • "Heartless" • "I'll Be Your Mirror" • "Changelings" • "Wish You Were Here" • "Tougher Than the Rest" • "Murder Most Foul • "Ill-Boding Patterns" • "Page 23" • "A Wondrous Place" • "Mother's Little Helper" • "Awake" • "Where Bluebirds Fly" • "The Black Fairy" • "The Song in Your Heart" • "The Final Battle" Season Seven: "Hyperion Heights" • "A Pirate's Life"• "The Garden of Forking Paths" • "Beauty" • "Greenbacks" • "Wake Up Call" • "Eloise Gardener" • "Pretty in Blue" • "One Little Tear" • "The Eighth Witch" • "Secret Garden" • "A Taste of the Heights" • "Knightfall" • "The Girl in the Tower" • "Sisterhood" • "Breadcrumbs" • "Chosen" • "The Guardian" • "Flower Child" • "Is This Henry Mills?" • "Homecoming" • "Leaving Storybrooke"
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland: "Down the Rabbit Hole" • "Trust Me" • "Forget Me Not" • "The Serpent" • "Heart of Stone" • "Who's Alice?" • "Bad Blood" • "Home" • "Nothing to Fear" • "Dirty Little Secrets" • "Heart of the Matter" • "To Catch a Thief" • "And They Lived..."
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland:Wonderland Castle • The Mad Hatter's House • White Rabbit's House • Underland • Tulgey Wood Both series:Storybrooke • Maine • Enchanted Forest • Forbidden Fortress • Wonderland • Wonderland Maze • Agrabah • Sherwood Forest • The Sultan's Palace
Objects
Once Upon a Time:Once Upon a Time (Book) • Red Riding Hood • Maleficent's Staff • Magic Wand • Glass Slipper • Poisoned Apple • Spinning Wheel • Magic Lamp • Dark One's Dagger • Chipped Cup • Jefferson's Hat • Magic Beans • Captain Hook's Hooks • Enchanted Candle • Pixie Dust • Dreamshade • Salad Fork • Pandora's Box • Silver Slippers • Sorcerer Hat • Enchanted Broom • Trident • Enchanted Shell • Heroes and Villains (Book) • Merida's Bow • Magical Rose • Excalibur • Olympian Crystal • Cinderella's Dress • Golden Scarab Beetle • Rapunzel's Frying Pan • Magical Golden Flower • Shrinking Potion • Floating Lanterns • Tarot Cards • Maui's Fish Hook
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland:Vorpal Blade Both series: Enchanted Hearts • Jafar's Lamp
Original Songs: "Powerful Magic" • The Queen Sings • Love Doesn't Stand a Chance • Revenge Is Gonna Be Mine • Wicked Always Wins • Charmings vs. Evil Queen • Emma's Theme • A Happy Beginning
