A 65-year-old man was found dead over the weekend on Disneyland Resort property in Anaheim, California, bringing a somber moment to the area surrounding the destination known around the world as the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
Anaheim police were called shortly before 1:45 p.m. Sunday after receiving a report of an unconscious man near the resort’s south entrance off Katella Avenue, Sgt. Eric Anderson told News Outlet on Monday.
Responding officers located the man on a sidewalk between the Disneyland hotels and one of the park entrances. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Anderson said authorities found no apparent injuries or evidence of foul play, with the death initially believed to have resulted from natural causes.
The location is part of Disneyland property, not a public sidewalk. Disneyland’s south entrance is distinct from the resort’s primary entrance and serves nearby hotel guests with a more convenient route into the park.
The incident happened around 6 p.m. Sunday on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disneyland. (David McNew/Getty Images)
Authorities have not publicly identified the man. Anderson said the coroner’s office is expected to handle the identification process.
Anderson said Anaheim Police Department officers assigned to homeless outreach routinely check on people living in the area, offer support services and explain when conduct may violate the law.
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California is cracking down with a new Guest Code of Conduct targeting ride disruptions tied to guest behavior. (Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/Getty Images)
The man, who was experiencing homelessness, had interacted with those officers before and was familiar to the department, police said.
According to Anderson, those earlier encounters were part of the department’s outreach efforts and were not connected to an arrest or allegations of criminal conduct.
Officers stayed at the scene until the coroner’s personnel arrived to take custody of the body. The coroner’s office will conduct the investigation needed to establish the official cause of death.
The 65-year-old had previously come into contact with those officers and was known to them before Sunday’s incident, Anaheim police said. (Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
A beer can was discovered nearby, but investigators had not determined whether it played any role in the man’s condition or death, Anderson said.
Images and video from the scene showed police tape blocking the sidewalk beneath a prominent Disneyland Resort entrance sign. A black privacy barrier was also placed around the area while the investigation was underway.
Disneyland Resort Media Relations confirmed that Anaheim police responded to the property but declined to provide further details, directing additional questions to the police department.
