Disney World Staff Tried to ‘Shield’ Guests from 3rd Death This Month

Disney World’s most magical place on earth turned grim once again this week — as horrified guests watched emergency crews rush to the scene of yet another death at one of the resort’s most famous hotels.

Authorities confirmed that 28-year-old Matthew Cohn died Thursday morning at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, marking the third fatal incident at Walt Disney World in October alone. Officials have not yet released a cause of death, but witnesses described a scene of chaos, confusion, and heartbreak.

@aiotfamily We woke up to a VERY large law enforcement outside our balcony this morning at Disney’s Bay Lake Tower. We were told it was a “medical emergency”. Prayers to the family & those involved! 🙏 #disneyworld #baylaketower ♬ original sound – Adventure Is Out There

Guests staying in the adjoining Bay Lake Tower woke up to police tape, flashing lights, and resort staff hastily trying to shield the scene from public view.

“We woke up to a very large law enforcement presence right outside our balcony,” one witness, who shared video of the aftermath on TikTok under the handle @aiotfamily, told reporters. “They said it was a medical emergency, but you could tell something serious had happened. They asked us to stay in our rooms. It was surreal.”

Another hotel guest said she saw paramedics performing CPR before Disney staff began closing off corridors and windows.

“They knocked on our door and told us not to look out,” the woman said. “It’s so sad. My mom was crying — we just didn’t know what was happening.”

By midday, the area near the monorail track outside the resort had been taped off as dozens of deputies, fire crews, and paramedics worked behind makeshift barriers made of scaffolding and towel carts. A white tent was later erected to block the view from nearby balconies, according to Inside the Magic.

Staff Scramble to Contain the Scene

Witnesses said hotel employees moved quickly to keep families calm and the incident out of sight. “They put up sheets, moved carts, and even told kids by the pool that the area was being cleaned,” said one father visiting from Georgia. “Disney doesn’t want anyone to see something like that. But you could feel the tension.”

By 1 p.m., emergency vehicles had cleared the property, leaving behind a stunned crowd of vacationers whispering about what they had just seen.

The latest tragedy follows two other recent fatalities on Disney property.

Just 12 days earlier, 31-year-old Summer Equitz, a beloved Disney superfan from Naperville, Illinois, took her own life at the same resort. Equitz reportedly flew to Florida without telling her family and was later found dead inside the hotel on October 14.

Then, earlier this week, a man in his 60s collapsed and died from an apparent medical episode at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, less than a mile away from the Contemporary.

While none of the cases are believed to be connected, the string of incidents has rattled parkgoers and sparked renewed questions about safety and mental health resources at major theme parks.

Disney has not commented publicly on the deaths. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s Office continue to investigate.

For many guests, however, the resort’s famously cheerful atmosphere now feels dimmer. “It’s supposed to be the happiest place on earth,” said one parkgoer. “But seeing so many tragedies in one month… it’s hard not to feel a shadow hanging over the magic.”