Tragedy at Walt Disney World: Missing Illinois Woman Dies by Apparent Suicide at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

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Walt Disney World was saddened this week by the death of Summer Equitz, a 31-year-old woman from Illinois and a passionate Disney fan. She was found deceased on Tuesday, October 14th, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Authorities have stated the death appears to be a suicide, and the medical examiner determined the cause of death was due to multiple injuries.

I first heard about the incident around 6:40 p.m. – it happened on North World Drive, which is right by the Contemporary Resort, near Magic Kingdom. There were rumors flying around on social media that a guest, Equitz, had been hit by the monorail, but officials quickly said that wasn’t true. They clarified that the guest wasn’t hit by the monorail that actually goes through that famous A-frame structure at the hotel.

Both Entertainment Weekly and The New York Post have reported that Equitz was found dead at the resort. Police are not releasing more information at this time to protect the family and because of the sensitive nature of the investigation.

A Tragic Event

The New York Post reported that Equitz was a huge Disney fan her whole life. Her social media showed pictures from previous trips to Disney parks, including a photo of her meeting Disney CEO Bob Iger in April 2021. She captioned the photo, “My life has peaked.”

Those who knew Equitz said she and her husband loved visiting Walt Disney World and often reminisced about their trips. Just under a year ago, she happily announced online that she was expecting a baby, sharing a picture of her ultrasound.

Family members say that in the days before she died, she unexpectedly left her home in Naperville, Illinois. A post on a Disney-related Reddit forum, believed to be from a family member, reported her missing and asked anyone at Walt Disney World to notify the police if they spotted her. The post was removed after her death was confirmed.

According to the New York Post, a relative said she unfortunately booked a flight without letting anyone know.

Disney has not released a public comment as of this writing.

A Disturbing Pattern

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time a tragedy has happened at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The hotel’s unique design – with rooms facing open hallways inside – has been linked to previous deaths. Back in 2016, a guest reportedly jumped from an upper level within the main building.

In 2022, theme park journalist Jim Hill discussed a strange and upsetting pattern he’d noticed with *The New York Post*.

Hill described a heartbreaking trend: people struggling with severe depression, hoping for one final joyful experience with their family, sometimes choose Walt Disney World for a trip. Tragically, some of these individuals will book a room at the 14-story Contemporary Resort and, after spending time with their family, end their lives by jumping from the building.

Although these incidents are rare considering the millions of guests who visit Walt Disney World annually, they are particularly upsetting because the resort is known as a place of happiness and magic.

Recent Tragedies Across Theme Parks

The recent death at Six Flags follows a pattern of unfortunate incidents at major theme parks. Just a week prior, a woman in her 60s passed away at Disneyland after a health issue on the Haunted Mansion ride. Earlier in September, a 32-year-old man named Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal’s Epic Universe in Orlando.

Although these events are different from one another, they’ve sparked renewed conversations about the health, safety, and emotional wellbeing of people visiting places that are usually considered relaxing getaways.

If You or Someone You Know Needs Help

If you’re going through a difficult time and having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out for help. You can connect with trained counselors anytime by calling or texting 988 in the U.S. All support is confidential and available 24/7.

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2025-10-16 22:59