Little Red is visible again at Disney's Animal Kingdom, but only on one elephant tour
Little Red, the missing Kilimanjaro Safaris baby elephant animatronic, is visible again at Animal Kingdom after about 14 years.
A long-lost piece of Animal Kingdom history is back where guests can see it. Little Red, the baby elephant animatronic from Kilimanjaro Safaris' original storyline, is visible again at Disney's Animal Kingdom after spending about 14 years out of sight.
The catch for fans hoping to spot Little Red on their next safari is that the animatronic is not back on Kilimanjaro Safaris itself. It is now sitting in a backstage area behind the second elephant yard, which means guests cannot see it from the safari trucks.
Right now, the only way to view Little Red is by taking Caring for Giants, the park's guided elephant tour. Disney describes that experience as a 60 minute tour centered on Animal Kingdom's African elephant herd. Guests are led to a viewing area about 100 feet away from the animals while animal care staff talk about them. The tour is open to ages 4 and up, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, separate park admission is still required, and bookings are handled through Disney's Enchanting Extras Collection or by phone. Because it takes place outdoors and runs a few times each day, weather can affect it.
For longtime Disney park fans, Little Red is tied to a version of Kilimanjaro Safaris that no longer exists. When the attraction opened on April 22, 1998, the ride included a poacher plot involving a mother elephant named Big Red and her calf, Little Red. The finale sent guests racing through the reserve before Little Red appeared safe at the end.
Disney gradually reduced that story and then removed it. In February 2012, the company said the Little Red scene would be replaced by a zebra habitat, which opened later that year. By 2013, the animatronic had been moved backstage near a cast services building behind Pride Rock, where it remained for more than a decade.
Fans first noticed Little Red's return to guest view in April, and photos taken Tuesday confirmed it is still there. Disney has not announced the move, and there is nothing to suggest the old storyline is coming back. The zebra habitat is still part of Kilimanjaro Safaris, so Little Red's reappearance currently works as a backstage sighting for tour guests rather than a restoration of the original ride.
