Pro tips: ICE! at Gaylord Palms

ICE! is officially back at Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center Nov. 18 through Jan. 1, and we have all the details for this year’s winter wonderland. It’s time to bring out the cold weather gear and prepare for 9 degrees of fun.

• Ice carvers from Harbin, China travelled 7,000 miles to transform 2 million pounds of ice into scenes and characters from How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
• 6,700 massive blocks of ice are used to create this artic tundra. That’s higher than 17 Empire State Buildings if you stacked them up!
• You’ll notice the bright colors of the ice sculptures that chemist prepare with special food coloring used to bring amazing hues to the ice. The colors won’t fade during the entire holiday celebration.
• With 20,000 square feet of space, you’ll have plenty of area to roam the ICE! attraction. But at 9 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll more than likely stay 15 to 30 minutes in the cold.

The Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center is kicking off the holiday season on Nov. 18 with Christmas at Gaylord Palms. This annual celebration includes ICE!, a Christmas tree trail, Cirque: Spirit of Christmas show, The Greatest Story musical, Shine – a vivid LED show, and so much more.

Let’s look at some pro tips when visiting ICE! and ways to maximize Gaylord Palms Resort’s holiday celebration.

• Wear pants: ICE! is kept at a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit and while a calf-length, hooded parka to keep you warm is provided, your legs will be exposed to the cold environment. Hooded coats run from infant sizes all the way to 4XL.

• Wear closed-toe shoes: All pathways through the ICE! exhibit are carpeted so boots are not necessary but closed-toe shows are required. If you’re a Floridian, this is one time flip flops won’t be appropriate.

• Dress in layers: With year-round beautiful weather, sunny Kissimmee is the perfect place to soak up some much-needed sunshine. That’s why it’s a good idea to pile on the jackets, hats, and gloves while inside ICE! and have the option to take them off when exploring the other holiday celebration activities.

• Invest in touchscreen gloves: Normal gloves will work just fine but if you plan on taking pictures and video, tech-friendly gloves will be perfect so you can keep your hands warm.

• Bring a small bag: The coats provided at ICE! don’t have pockets, so bring a small bag to hold your camera, phone, and other necessities.

• Conserve battery life: The drastic change in temperature may cause your phone’s battery to drain. Make sure to keep your phone on “low power mode” or airplane mode while inside.

• Visit ICE! during the week: The exhibit opens at 10 a.m. every day and tends to get busier the closer it gets to the nights, weekends, and holidays.

• Enjoy dinner at the hotel: Make a date out of it! Grab a beer at Wrecker’s Sports Bar or choose from one of the many fine dining options at the Gaylord Palms Resort before or after you visit ICE!.

• Stay overnight: Extend your evening into the night and stay a while at Gaylord Palms Resort for exclusive perks. You can request special rooms with a Yuletide view of the atrium shows and lights. Plus, overnight guests have front-of-line ICE! access with the Chill Pass, Extra Cool Hour allowing you early entry to ICE! and Alpine Village one hour before regular day guests, and ability to reserve seating to the popular dining experiences (Thanksgiving Dinner, The Feast with The Grinch character breakfast, Christmas Dinner, and New Year’s Eve Buffet.) Plus, you’ll have year-round fun at Cypress Springs Water Park featuring seven water slides, a multi-level water playground, surf simulator, action river, and more. This is how Central Florida celebrates the holidays!

Don’t wait until the last minute to enhance your ICE! experience. Here are some of the other Christmas celebrations you can enjoy at Gaylord Palms Resort:

• Cirque: Spirit of Christmas – high-flying stunts, aerial silk performers, and more.
• The Greatest Story – a musical score, dancing spotlights, and more. 
• Shine – a vivid LED light show.
• Adventure Kids: Wonders of Winter – stage show teaching about the environment.
• The Journey of Los Tres Magos – live stage production of the Three Wise Men. Dec. 26 – Jan. 1.
• Naughty of Nice Escape Room – sneak past Santa’s office and solve puzzles.
• Snow Factory – ice tubing, snowball throwing, and more.
• Elf Training Academy – create special keepsakes and crafts.
• Gingerbread Decorating Center – create gingerbread treats and meet Nutmeg.
• Build-A-Bear Workshop – make your own furry friend.
• Christmas Tree Trail – picturesque, themed trees around the atrium.
• The Feast with the Grinch character breakfast – buffet of Christmas flavors with special appearances.
• The Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt – solve riddles and complete the hunt.
• Meet and greet with Santa Claus – Nov. 18 through Dec. 24
• Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions – sing along with Mrs. Claus and listen to story time with milk and cookies.
• Market Square – wall-to-wall holiday gifts for all.
• Winter Wonderland – Relâche Spa using eucalyptus in their massages, facials, and pedicures. Nov. 1 through Jan. 6.

Above all, have fun and use the hashtag #MyKissimmee on your social media posts! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see real-time photos and videos and subscribe to our newsletter for discounts, local happenings, and more.