Gaylord Palms Resort Orlando
Best of Florida Christmas at Gaylord Palms
Featuring ICE!, our frozen family attraction made from 2 million pounds of ice
November 17, 2008 – January 4, 2009
As the Orlando host to the Christmas holiday season, Gaylord Palms Resort offers a slate of activities sure to make you "merry and bright" as part of our Best of Florida Christmas celebration! Our 4.5-acre atrium is transformed into a magical Christmas wonderland, filled with elegant and sometimes whimsical décor, a majestic 54-foot Christmas tree, and a variety of fun-filled activities and entertainment for the entire family.
This year's program features 49 days of holiday revelry, including:
ICE!
Who says the holidays in Florida are all about sunshine and palm trees? Prepare for the coolest winter on record as Gaylord Palms presents ICE!, a walk-through attraction hand-carved from nearly TWO MILLION pounds of ice.
Explore a whimsical winter wonderland of larger-than-life, three-dimensional hand-carved ice monuments and sculptures, including fantastic frozen creations, slippery ice slides, and memorable holiday scenes. As for the chill, visitors are given oversized parkas to stay comfortable inside the attraction, which is kept at a blustery 9 degrees. In its sixth season, ICE! will reflect the theme "Santa's Arctic Blast," featuring several scenes that star "Jolly Cold Saint Nicholas" himself. One such scene is an oversized "Santa's knee" photo opportunity that's likely to be the most photographed element inside the attraction. Another guest favorite, the ICE! slides, have been re-designed to celebrate Santa's Christmas Eve flight... reindeer and all.
The attraction's signature scene, a life-size Nativity carved completely of crystal-clear ice, has been described as one of the most breathtaking depictions of the birth of Christ. Dramatic lighting and a stirring narrative track give guests an opportunity to pause and reflect on the story behind the season.
The attraction is carved by a team of 40 artisans from Harbin, China. The talented artisans spend more than a month in Kissimmee creating this one-of-a-kind attraction. Harbin is best known for its annual International Ice and Snow Festival, where more than 2,000 sculptors annually carve a 100-acre walk-through Ice Park from ice taken from the Songhua River.
NOTE: ICE! is kept at a frigid 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to dress appropriately: closed-toe shoes and long pants are required.
The Majestic Christmas Tree, perched atop the Castillo de San Marcos Fort, towering more than 70 feet above Emerald Plaza.
Hidden Holiday Gnome Hunt, a festive family hunt throughout the atriums of Gaylord Palms to spot cleverly hidden gnomes.
Christmas in Florida: The County Wreath Collection, an exhibition of wreaths decorated to celebrate Florida's diverse destinations, from coast to coast.
Live stage entertainment, on select dates.
Santa visits, where you can see Jolly Old St. Nick himself. Or, if you're shy, you can send him your wish list by email!
Holiday brunch with Mrs. Claus on select weekends at Villa de Flora. (Reservations recommended)
Lights, Lights, Lights, enjoy elegant, and sometimes whimsical décor and holiday lights throughout each of the resort's three atriums.
Fun Facts About ICE!
2,000,000 pounds of ice will be used to create ICE!
5,000 blocks of ice will be hand carved and transformed into a winter wonderland.
9 degrees Fahrenheit is the average temperature inside "The Florida Fridge," the home of the ICE! attraction.
1500+ fluorescent and fiber optic lights will be frozen within the ice, creating a magical holiday experience.
More than 18,000 total square feet of space is covered by the ICE! attraction. Kept at a brisk 9 degrees, the unique structure housing ICE! is also known as the "Florida Fridge." It is believed to be the first of its kind in North America.
