Set in the Arabian land of Agrabah, princess Jasmine is distressing her father the Sultan by continually turning away suitors. The law decrees that she must marry a prince before her next birthday, but she refuses to marry one of the foppish princes who come courting her just for the sake of the law. Disillusioned with regal life in general, she escapes over the palace wall.
Unfamiliar with the market place, she gives an apple from a merchant's cart to two small children. The merchant demands payment from her, but she has no money. Aladdin, termed a "street rat" but really a kind hearted boy forced to steal for food, helps her to escape. He takes her to his makeshift rooftop home, which boast a magnificent view of the palace. The view does not impress Jasmine. Eventually the guards find Jasmine and Aladdin. To save herself and Aladdin, Jasmine reveals her true identity to the guards and is taken back to the palace.
Jafar, the Sultan's advisor, is unsatisfied with welding his power by influencing Jasmine's father, wanting to be in direct control himself. When the Sultan tells him of his problems finding Jasmine a husband, Jafar "discovers" an ancient law which says that if the princess does not choose a prince she must marry ... why, it means Jasmine would have to wed Jafar! The Sultan believes this, and Jafar is certain that his problems are over.
Jafar also has a scheme to obtain a magic lamp from the Cave of Wonders so as to increase his powers. Unfortunately, only a "diamond in the rough" may enter the cave, and Jafar with his evil heart does not fit the description. Jafar sets upon Aladdin to go into the cave for him, telling him that Aladdin can have anything he wants but the lamp belongs to Jafar.
The lamp is no ordinary lamp because it contains a genie who will grant three wishes to whoever frees the genie by rubbing the lamp. Jafar's plan backfires, and Aladdin unwittingly winds up as the Genie's master.
Aladdin has the Genie turn him in to "Prince Ali" so that he may go to the palace and win Jasmine's hand. Aladdin, however, gets carried away with acting regal. Although he impresses the Sultan, and angers Jafar, he fails to receive much in the way of kindness from Jasmine. The Genie coaches Aladdin, stressing that Aladdin should stop acting so pompous and just be himself. Aladdin does not believe him, feeling that Jasmine will only like him as a prince, not as the poor boy that he really is. He invites Jasmine on a magic carpet ride. Jasmine is reluctant, and Aladdin asks if she trusts him. For an instant, Jasmine remembers this same phrase coming from the poor boy she met in the streets of Agrabah, and agrees to go with him. She has fallen in love with Aladdin, not with the pompous and egocentric Prince Ali.
Jafar decides that it is time to take drastic measures. He obtains possession of the magic lamp, and therefore becomes the Genie's master. He exposes Prince Ali as the poor Aladdin, and removes him from the palace. The Genie does not like Jafar and wishes to stay loyal to Aladdin, but has no choice. One thing which Jafar has forgotten is that, as the Genie had told Aladdin, being a genie means phenomenal cosmic power, and an itty-bitty living space. Aladdin taunts Jafar, saying that although Jafar may have gotten his power from the Genie he is still not all that powerful. Jafar takes the bait, asking the Genie to make him the most powerful genie in the world. The Genie does so, and they are able to imprison Jafar in his genie's lamp. Aladdin grants the Genie his freedom, and everyone lives happily ever after (except for Jafar, of course).
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