Walt Disney World has been having a genuinely remarkable baby animal spring, and if you have not been paying attention to what is arriving on the savannas at Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge in 2026, this is the moment to start.
Disney just officially named its newest baby Masai giraffe and revealed what comes next for the calf that has been charming the animal care team behind the scenes since her arrival earlier this spring.
Her name is Ivy, and she is coming to Kilimanjaro Safaris very soon.
The Birth and the Name
Ivy is a female Masai giraffe calf born earlier this spring at Walt Disney World. She arrived weighing an impressive 120 pounds and standing nearly six feet tall at birth, which is the kind of detail that requires a moment to fully absorb because a six-foot-tall newborn is not a standard reference point for most people encountering it for the first time.
Since her birth Ivy has been bonding with her mother Willow behind the scenes, away from the public-facing savanna while the two establish their relationship and Ivy develops the physical confidence and capability that savanna life requires. Animal care experts have confirmed that Ivy is thriving, which is the most important piece of any baby animal announcement, and her debut on the Kilimanjaro Safaris savanna at Disney's Animal Kingdom is described as coming very soon.
That debut is going to make a lot of people's safari experience significantly more memorable than it already was.
Why a Baby Giraffe Changes the Safari
Kilimanjaro Safaris is already one of the most genuinely impressive experiences at Walt Disney World because the animals are real, the encounters are unpredictable in the best possible way, and the landscape design creates an atmosphere that does not feel like a theme park ride for significant stretches of the journey. A giraffe sighting on the safari is already a highlight for most guests regardless of the animal's age.
A baby giraffe, still figuring out her legs and staying close to her mother as curiosity and confidence develop together, adds a layer of tenderness and novelty to that encounter, turning an already memorable experience into something genuinely special. Guests visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom in the coming weeks should watch for Ivy's appearance on the safari route. Earlier morning rides typically produce the most active animal behavior across the savanna.
The Bigger Baby Animal Picture
Ivy is the most recently named arrival but she is not the only baby animal story running at Walt Disney World this spring.
At Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, an Ankole cattle calf was born in March 2026, marking the first Ankole cattle birth at the resort in over twenty years. The female calf and her mother are bonding before their debut on the lodge savanna. Ankole cattle are among the most visually striking residents of the Animal Kingdom Lodge grounds, characterized by their dramatically curved horns that can span several feet and their cultural significance across East Africa. A twenty-year gap between births makes this calf genuinely significant from both an animal care and a guest experience perspective.
Three red river hog piglets have also been born backstage at Animal Kingdom Lodge this spring. Red river hogs are visually distinctive animals with striking reddish coats, dramatic facial markings, and tufted ears, making them immediately recognizable and consistently popular with guests who encounter them on the savanna. The piglets are expected to join the rest of the herd on the lodge savanna once the animal care team determines they are ready for the transition.
How to See All of Them at Disney
Ivy will be visible on the Kilimanjaro Safaris route at Disney's Animal Kingdom once she makes her debut. No additional ticket or reservation beyond standard park admission is required.
The Ankole cattle calf and the red river hog piglets are at Animal Kingdom Lodge rather than at the park. Guests do not need a room reservation to visit the lodge. It is accessible via a complimentary bus from Disney Springs. Dining reservations at Jiko, Boma, or Sanaa provide access to some of the best meals available at Walt Disney World. Sanaa offers direct savanna views from the dining room, so guests can watch the Ankole cattle family and the rest of the lodge's wildlife while dining, which remains one of the most extraordinary casual dining experiences anywhere in the resort.
Ivy. An Ankole cattle calf. Three red river hog piglets. The savannas at Walt Disney World in the summer of 2026 are worth visiting specifically.
