The holiday season at Walt Disney World is typically a time of celebration and new beginnings, but the first weekend of 2026 has been marked by tragedy. On the night of Friday, January 2, 2026, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) confirmed the discovery of a deceased individual at Disney Springs, sending a wave of shock through the resort’s shopping and dining district.
The incident has reignited a somber conversation among frequent visitors and locals alike, as it follows a historically difficult period for the resort. In late 2025, Disney World faced an unprecedented “dark month,” where five separate guest fatalities occurred in a span of just four weeks.
The Incident: What We Know About the Orange Garage Discovery
The emergency response began around 8:55 p.m. on Friday night. Law enforcement and first responders were initially dispatched to East Buena Vista Drive following reports of a “person down.” However, by the time units arrived at the Orange Garage—one of the three massive parking structures serving Disney Springs—the call had been reclassified as a “Dead Person” report.
Eyewitnesses returning to their vehicles described a heavy law enforcement presence on the lower levels of the garage. For several hours, a portion of the structure was cordoned off as investigators and the medical examiner’s office processed the scene.
While the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released the identity of the individual or the official cause of death, preliminary statements indicate that no foul play is currently suspected. The garage returned to normal operations by Saturday morning, but the haunting memory of the evening remains for many guests who witnessed the blue tarps and police tape in what is usually a place of leisure.
A Look Back at the “Dark Month” of Late 2025
The tragedy at the Orange Garage feels particularly heavy to the Disney community because of the series of deaths that rocked the property in the final quarter of 2025. Between mid-October and early November, the resort saw a statistical anomaly that many long-time fans found deeply unsettling.
The Contemporary Resort Tragedies
Two of the most high-profile deaths in 2025 occurred at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the iconic A-frame hotel near the Magic Kingdom.
- Summer Equitz (October 14, 2025): The string of tragedies began when 31-year-old Summer Equitz, a self-described “Disney superfan” from Illinois, was found dead near the resort. Authorities determined her cause of death was suicide by multiple blunt impact injuries. Her death sparked a massive outpouring of grief in online fan communities, where she was renowned for her lifelong passion for Disney culture.
- Matthew Cohn (October 23, 2025): Barely ten days later, Matthew Cohn, a 28-year-old from Los Angeles, was found dead at Bay Lake Tower, the DVC wing of the Contemporary. His death was also ruled a suicide. The proximity of these two events led to increased security patrols and a renewed focus on mental health awareness within the resort.
Medical Emergencies at Pop Century and Fort Wilderness
The deaths were not limited to self-harm incidents. The “dark month” of 2025 also saw several medical emergencies:
- October 21, 2025: A man in his 60s passed away from a medical episode at the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground loop 1500 (Cottontail Curl).
- November 2, 2025: A woman in her 40s was found unresponsive at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Despite the efforts of first responders, she was pronounced dead shortly after being transported to a local hospital.
By November 8, 2025, a fifth fatality was reported at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, marking a total of five deaths in less than 30 days.
The Psychology of the “Disney Bubble”
Why do these incidents capture the world’s attention so vividly? Experts suggest it is due to the “Disney Bubble”—the idealized environment where guests pay a premium to escape the hardships of the outside world. When reality intrudes on this space in the form of a medical crisis or a personal tragedy, the contrast is profound.
Licensed therapists have noted that some individuals struggling with severe mental health challenges may turn to places of deep nostalgia and comfort during their darkest moments. For many, Disney World represents the happiest memories of their lives, which can create a heartbreaking “last refuge” scenario.
