A devoted Disney enthusiast from Illinois, Summer Equitz, was reported missing from her home only to be found under heart-wrenching circumstances at Walt Disney World in Orlando. The 31-year-old tragically ended her life at the Contemporary Resort Hotel on Tuesday night, as confirmed by the Daily Mail.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office classified the incident as a suicide, though the medical examiner has not provided additional information regarding the case.

Before this heartbreaking discovery, a missing persons notice had been circulated on a Reddit forum dedicated to Disney fans, seemingly initiated by a concerned family member. The post urged community members to alert authorities if they spotted Equitz within the resort grounds.

Prior to Equitz’s death, a missing persons page was created on a Reddit forum for Disney fans, apparently by a relative.  

The post frantically asked users to call the cops if they saw Equitz in the resort. 

It added that she had left her home in Naperville and booked a flight to Florida without telling anyone. 

One commenter asked the relative what time she had entered the hotel and they replied: ‘I believe early afternoon. She booked a flight there without telling us, unfortunately.’

After news started to spread online that someone had taken their own life at the four-star hotel on Tuesday night, the post was deleted. 

Summer Equitz killed herself at Walt Disney World in Orlando on Tuesday 

Equitz with husband Nico Danilovich in a social media post from December 2024 that announced her pregnancy 

Equitz met Disney boss Bob Iger in April 2021 and shared a photograph of them together 

The Contemporary Resort is famed for its cavernous interior and has multiple high balconies with steep drops, as well as a monorail train that runs through its lobby. 

Equitz, from Illinois, is married to Nico Danilovich according to an online honeymoon fundraiser which was set up in September of last year. 

The couple ended up celebrating their honeymoon at Walt Disney World Resort exactly a year ago.

In December 2024, Equitz posted a celebratory ultrasound scan announcing her pregnancy.

Further updates on this were not shared publicly.  

Equitz had also shared images of herself spending time at Disney theme parks, including one image with the entertainment giant’s chief executive Bob Iger. 

She shared the image of herself alongside Iger in April 2021, captioning it: ‘My life has peaked.

In the picture she was seen wearing a Disney T-shirt, as well as a Mickey Mouse baseball cap.

Although she was wearing a mask, Equitz appeared to be overcome with emotion after meeting Iger.  

Orange County Sheriff’s Office were unable to offer further details about what had happened 

The unknown person frantically asked fellow Disney fans to call the cops if they saw Equitz in the resort, saying she had booked a flight to Florida without telling anybody 

Equitz’s most recent job was as a nanny although she had also previously worked at Disneyland in Anaheim in California  

A police presence at the resort was captured on Tuesday night and shared to social media 

According to Equitz’s LinkedIn profile she was most recently employed as a nanny, having previously worked as a social media consultant for several firms. 

Her work timeline indicates she also worked at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, as a character performer and entertainment host from 2012 until 2015.

In a theater blog post by the Yorba Linda Spotlight Theater Company that highlighted her work, she said she had been performing in musical theater since 4th grade. 

She added that Beauty and the Beast was her favorite Disney film, while adding she had aspirations of portraying Ursula from The Little Mermaid.

Scores of police swarmed the area after being called to the hotel shortly after 6pm to reports of a dead body.

The Contemporary Resort is famed for its 1970s decor and was one of the first hotels to open at Walt Disney Resort. A monorail linking the resort’s different parks runs through its lobby  

Images since emerged online of a white tent near the observation deck that runs alongside the iconic monorail that transports guests into the park. 

Orange County Sheriff’s Office dismissed online rumors Equitz had been struck by a monorail train.

A spokesman said: ‘The Disney guest was NOT struck by the monorail, so that is erroneous information.’ 

The monorail runs directly through the hotel, which has space for 655 rooms, according to Disney. 

For help and support, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on 988