Ron Clements and John Musker directed the Disney classics Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Hercules. So they were asked to bust some myths involving the three movies.
First did Aladdin really take place in a post-apocalyptic future? NO. It was originally supposed to be set in Baghdad until the first Gulf War happened. To avoid controversy they jumbled the letters and came up with Agrabah.
Is the peddler at the beginning of Aladdin really the Genie? YES. It was supposed to be revealed at the end of the movie, and ROBIN WILLIAMS did the peddler’s voice. But thanks to some story changes and editing the connection between the two characters just got lost.
Is there a scene where Aladdin says “Take off your clothes”? NO. It does kind of sound like it. But Scott Weinger, who did Aladdin’s voice, says, quote, “I never said it! I feel bad being a myth buster, although it’s probably a good one to bust.”
Are Aladdin and Princess Jasmine in “Hercules”? NO.
When Hercules is singing “Go the Distance”, he sees a purple shooting star. And there’s “evidence” that it’s Aladdin and Jasmine on the magic carpet, from the scene where they sing “A Whole New World”. But Clements said when they made the movie, they were thinking it was Pegasus, who was watching over Hercules even before he joined up with him.
Is the wrecked ship that Ariel and Flounder investigate in “The Little Mermaid” the same one Elsa’s parents in “Frozen” died on? NO. Clements calls that theory interesting, but adds that it’s, quote, “like fan fiction.”