Credit: Martin Lewison, FlickrReports from multiple Walt Disney World Resort guests indicate that a death or serious medical emergency occurred at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort on May 16. However, unlike in previous incidents, there was no police scanner activity regarding the incident, suggesting that Disney may be suppressing “person down” calls that occur on its Central Florida properties following a string of viral reports about at least five guest deaths in the fall of 2025.
Incidents in Fall 2025
Walt Disney World Resort went viral beginning in October 2025 after a string of deaths at various locations on its property in Central Florida. It started with the suicide of a 31-year-old self-described Disney superfan named Summer Equitz. Equitz, who lived in Illinois, died after falling from an interior balcony at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and had been reported missing before her death.
On October 21, 2025, an unidentified guest in their 60s died after a medical episode at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Days later, another man died by suicide at Disney’s Contemporary Resort after falling from an exterior balcony on the Bay Lake Tower building. 28-year-old Matthew Cohn had checked into a 12-floor room at the Deluxe Disney Resort hotel the night before and paid in cash.
In early November 2025, two more unidentified guests died of natural causes following medical incidents at Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort.
Foul play was not involved in any of these five incidents at Walt Disney World Resort, yet they drew international news coverage given the short time span. Most of the deaths were initially uncovered following reports from Disney Park guests and X (formerly known as Twitter) user @WDWActiveCrime, who began tracking and publicizing police scanner activity near the Central Florida vacation destination in July 2025.
Alleged Death at Disney World Hotel on May 16
On May 16, X user @SHMILY_ohana reached out to @WDWActiveCrime to ask about any police scanner activity regarding a medical emergency at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort that evening. The Disney Park guest recalled seeing paramedics carrying a lifeless-looking person on a stretcher and using a medical device intended to help those in cardiac arrest, as well as crime scene tape.
Nothing for tonight at Port Orleans? We heard commotion out our door and see ems running throwing an unresponsive person on a stretcher with the Lucas device (they did NOT look alive) and take off. Then they roped off the area with crime scene tape.
Nothing for tonight at Port Orleans? We heard commotion out our door and see ems running throwing an unresponsive person on a stretcher with the Lucas device (they did NOT look alive) and take off. Then they roped off the area with crime scene tape.
— Marie (@SHMILY_ohana) May 17, 2026
Another X user, @jessbullock89, reported witnessing the same incident.
Came here to ask the same thing…
Came here to ask the same thing…
— Jess B (@jessbullock89) May 17, 2026
Neither Walt Disney World Resort guest specified whether the incident occurred at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside or Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.
Despite multiple reports from Central Florida Disney Park guests, @WDWActiveCrime reported that there were no public records regarding an emergency response at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort that night. The user speculated that, following the virality of the string of deaths last fall, Walt Disney World Resort may be limiting public access to “person down” calls on its property.
I’m starting to get the impression that they are limiting their public calls for Disney Property since I started. They haven’t had a “Man Down” call for months. I’m sure Disney put pressure on them.
I’m starting to get the impression that they are limiting their public calls for Disney Property since I started. They haven’t had a “Man Down” call for months. I’m sure Disney put pressure on them.
— Walt Disney World: Active Calls (@WDWActiveCrime) May 17, 2026
Walt Disney World Resort did not issue a public statement regarding the potential death at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort on May 16. Typically, patients are not identified in cases of medical episodes caused by natural factors.
Inside the Magic sends its thoughts to those affected by the medical emergency at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort on May 16.
