This is what you want: a Disney Girls Trip

My surroundings have known this about me for a long time, and I am not ashamed of it at all (on the contrary), so here I come out out and proud about it: I am a Disney fanatic. As in: really a gi-gantic fan. But only of the cartoons from the past (although I can sing along to ‘Let it go’ just fine): I can really keep watching. The songs, the stories, the romance, the nostalgic feeling... It genuinely makes me happy.

So you understand that I had been looking forward to going to the musical Disney's Aladdin with my friends for weeks, at the AFAS Circustheater in Scheveningen. Now, I am the biggest Disney fan in my group of friends, but luckily we are all enthusiasts. In fact, that has multiplied tenfold after this musical.

I was actually a bit nervous about it; I had seen so many positive and enthusiastic stories online that my expectations were a bit unrealistically high. Additionally, I had been disappointed once by the real-life version of the film Aladdin (yes, sorry, I really didn't like that one) and I didn't want to go through that a second time.

I forgot those nerves the moment we drove into the parking garage. Super handy: it's literally right next to the theater, so I saw a gigantic version of the Lamp in front of the entrance (with a similarly gigantic line of fans who, of course, wanted to take a photo with it). Quickly scanned the tickets and before I knew it, we were ready for the show.

Before the show started, the atmosphere was already great among me and my friends: in the background, you could hear the most famous songs from Aladdin playing, and perhaps I sang along off-key a note or three.

But then the musical: I genuinely mean it when I say that I have never enjoyed myself so much in a theater. What a spectacle this was. I don't want to reveal too much about what you can expect, but you will be amazed. How they managed to create the Cave of Wonders on stage... Wow. Fireworks, optical illusions, dance, singing; I seriously want to see it a second time because there was so much to see on stage. Especially the singing deserves an extra shout out, because it was truly extraordinary. Stanley Burleson as the Genie, what energy. Dancing and hitting every note, I was truly amazed.

Because I am such a big Disney fan, I was curious about what my friends thought. During the break, we chose the break arrangement (very nice: your drink and snacks are already waiting for you in the Circusbar) and that was an ideal moment to catch up. Although at first, not much was said, we were all speechless from the spectacle we had just witnessed.

Okay, last but certainly not least: of course, I cried. The Genie being freed, Jasmine and Aladdin finally being together: that, combined with those beautiful songs, makes it impossible for me to stay dry. I look at one of my friends on the left: yes, tears as well.

On the way back, we agreed to do this at least once every six months: a Girls Trip to the theater. It's such a fun outing with everyone and we all really enjoyed it. However, the chance is great that we will just go back to Aladdin in six months. This was truly magical.

Also going to Disney's Aladdin? Buy your tickets here.