Christmas at Gaylord Palms

With the holiday season full steam ahead, so many families are busy planning activities to do with their families and are starting or continuing new holiday traditions. Spending time with family and making memories is what makes the season so special after all. Christmas at the Gaylord Palms is one event that would make for a wonderful holiday tradition. It’s fun, local, and perfect for the whole family.

Now, when people think of Christmas in Florida, they certainly don’t think of snow and ice. We’re lucky if we can dress up on Christmas day without getting too hot! Why not take a break from Mr. Heat Miser and pay a visit to his brother in a world filled with ICE!? Gaylord Palms Resort has once again outdone themselves with their awe-inspiring display of ice and this year the theme is ICE! Christmas Around the World. Everything in ICE! from the towering walls with intricate colorful designs to the tunnels and animal statues are all hand carved on site and with over 2 million pounds of ice, the room is kept at chilling 9 degrees so be sure to dress warmly! I was fortunate enough to visit and experience ICE! with my family on their media preview night along side The Mommy Spot Tampa.

To enjoy the experience of ICE! featuring Christmas Around the World, plan to spend anywhere from 15-30 minutes within the exhibit. If you find yourself feeling a little too chilly before you have seen it all, you may exit in the designated area to warm up before reentering and finishing your walk through. Inside there are activities for all! Enjoy the hand carved displays that showcase the diversity seen around the world alive with beautiful colors and carvings, race your friends or family down the 5 available ice slides [there is 1 kid slide for those under 40”], crawl through tunnels of ice carved just perfectly for your littlest of travelers and so much more, you may even get a peek at Santa's workshop--in ICE! form of course! You truly have to see to believe!

What you need to know:

• As mentioned above, the room for ICE! is kept at 9 degrees Fahrenheit. IT. IS. COLD.
• Gaylord Palms ICE! DOES provide jackets in all sizes, infant to 4XL. They do not provide gloves or hats so I strongly suggest bringing your own. 
• Wear or bring your own jacket as well, you may be cold outside once you return your ICE! jacket.
• Boots aren’t necessary, but closed toed shoes are required.
• ICE! is stroller and wheelchair friendly.
• Buy tickets in advance, lines can get long especially on the weekends.

For anyone visiting the Gaylord Palms Resort, be sure to stop by the atrium to enjoy the Christmas Tree trail, see the new JOYFUL! Atrium Light show with festive holiday music from around the world and lots of sparkling lights, as well as the all-new Cirque Dreams Unwrapped stage show complete with jaw-dropping acrobat acts.

Extra, Extra!

Just outside of the ICE! display is the Alpine Village where you can enjoy sweet treats, warm beverages, and do a little holiday shopping. In this area you will also find Snow Tubing which can be enjoyed by anyone 36” and over. Keep in mind that you are tubing down REAL ICE so hold on tight as you zoom down the hill! Also enjoy an interactive Snow Throw game where you can try your hand at throwing a real snowball at moving and non-moving targets. Other offerings include:

• Breakfast with Charlie Brown and Friends
• Build-a-Bear Workshop
• Photos with Santa
• Visit with Mrs. Claus
• Make your own gingerbread man
• Sounds of the Season
• Post Office to send your Christmas wishes to Santa in the North Pole

To read more details about all of the activities that Gaylord Palms has to offer this Christmas season, click HERE. Christmas at Gaylord Palms runs November 21st-January 7th.

Disclaimer: I attended the Media Preview Night for ICE! at the Gaylord Palms for free in exchange for this post and social media coverage. All opinions are my own.