Further devastating details have been released as a Disney fan sadly died by suicide at Disney World.
The devoted Disney superfan was found dead at Disney World’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Authorities confirmed the woman, Summer Equitz, died by suicide in what marks the first such incident at the iconic hotel in several years.
Summer Equitz: A Lifelong Disney Enthusiast
Equitz, a former Disneyland employee and lifelong Disney devotee, had traveled from her home in Naperville, Illinois, to Florida without informing her family. According to a now-deleted Reddit post from a relative, she boarded a flight unannounced.
“She booked a flight there without telling us, unfortunately,” the family member wrote in a missing persons thread asking for help locating her, per The Sun.
Her body was discovered Tuesday night at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, prompting a large police response.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office confirmed she died from multiple blunt impact injuries and ruled the case a suicide.
Initial social media speculation falsely claimed she was struck by the hotel’s monorail, but officials swiftly denied this, stating: “The person was NOT struck by the monorail.”
Due to the sensitive nature of the case, police have declined to share further details. “We don’t release additional information in cases of suicide,” a sheriff’s spokesperson said, per EW.
Equitz’s death comes at the end of what was meant to be a joyful chapter in her life. She had celebrated her honeymoon at Walt Disney World in 2024 with her husband, Nico Danilovich, and later shared the news of her pregnancy that December.
Her social media was filled with snapshots of her Disney adventures, including a photo taken with Disney CEO Bob Iger in April 2021, captioned: “My life has peaked.”
Between 2012 and 2015, Equitz worked at Disneyland in California as a character performer and entertainment host. She later transitioned into roles as a nanny and social media consultant.
A Notorious History at the Contemporary Resort
The Contemporary Resort, with its iconic A-frame design and monorail running through its atrium, is one of Disney’s most well-known properties. It sits just steps away from the Magic Kingdom and offers sweeping views of the park.
However, the hotel has a documented history of tragic incidents.
Disney historian Jim Hill told the New York Post: “There’s this weird phenomenon where people who are severely depressed but want to have that one last good happy family memory will go to Walt Disney World.”
In 2016, a similar tragedy occurred at the same resort when a guest reportedly jumped from one of the hotel’s balconies. The latest incident has reignited conversations about mental health and safety across Disney’s sprawling properties.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.