Living in Central Florida, it’s hard to get into the holiday spirit because Mother Nature doesn’t realize it’s supposed to be cold. Hard to think Merry Christmas when it’s 80* out. Luckily, we have events around town that help us out like Christmas and ICE! at Gaylord Palms.
Disclosure: My family was invited to experience ICE! as media personnel for the purpose of this honest review. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.
Cirque Dreams Unwrapped
You will be dazzled by an array of seasonal characters brought to life in a dreamscape of imaginative costumes and creativity, while stunning feats of showmanship are performed on stage and in the air, leaving the entire family on the edge of their seats.
Christmas tree lighting ceremony
Just before the Cirque Dreams performance you can watch the famous Orlando Christmas tree lighting ceremony (nightly at 6:15 pm), complete with Christmas carolers, lights, and of course, the star of the show, the massive 54-foot-tall Majestic Christmas Tree! It towers over the St. Augustine atrium waiting for the special moment to light up and cast holiday cheer to the guests on hand to witness it in all its glory.
ICE!
The main attraction is of course ICE! featuring ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas! From now until January 3, 2016 this is one attraction everyone will be talking about.
Other Fun Events:
- Alpine Rush Snow Tubing – Come visit the Alpine Village and zoom down an eight-lane 18′ tubing hill that’s fun for all ages and covered in REAL SNOW! Double riding tubes are available for parents with small children. this year my 5-year-old was able to ride alone for the first time! She had a blast and wanted to go down over and over again!
- The Elf on the Shelf® Scavenger Hunt – Ignite your inner sleuth and takes a journey throughout the holiday-clad hotel. You and your family will follow clues and scan the hotel to spot the 10 scout elves who have landed at Gaylord Palms. By solving puzzles and finding all of the elves, you will reveal the elves’ names so they can report back to Santa. All families that completes the scavenger hunt will win a special prize!
- Build-A-Bear Workshop – This pop-up shop is a place where guests can create their very own personalized furry friends and will feature the same experiences offered at other Build-A-Bear Workshop stores throughout the country. Choose from an array of animals and characters, including faces featured in some of the season’s most popular movies, including Star Wars. Watch them come to life at the signature stuffer and add accessories, clothing and more, including an exclusive, furry friend-sized “Christmas at Gaylord Palms” T-shirt to commemorate your visit.
- Gingerbread Decorating Corner sponsored by PEEPS® – This fun, sticky, interactive decorating tradition just got a whole lot sweeter! Choose from two different design options to create either a delectable gingerbread cookie family or a complete gingerbread house. After you’ve decorated to your heart’s content, make your way to meet our gingerbread man for a heartwarming hug you can capture with your own camera.
- Breakfast with Mrs. Claus – Enjoy breakfast with the mother of the North Pole herself, Mrs. Claus. Joined by some of her top elves this character breakfast is sure to get you in the holiday spirit, and who knows she may even put in a good word with the big guy himself!
- Photos With Santa – Come meet the big guy himself up until Christmas Eve and tell him what’s on your Christmas list! Photo packages available through Noerr.
Have you ever been to ICE! before?
Purchase your tickets now to experience this chilly one of a kind event!
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
6000 West Osceola Parkway Kissimmee Florida 34746
1-407-586-4423
I’ve stayed at a Gaylor hotel before (different location) and it was great. I get emails about thier Christmas festivities. Now I want to take advantage of those offers. The ICE exhibit looks great.
Looks like tons of fun. I have not been before, Im sure we would enjoy it. Thank you for sharing.
What an unusual place to take the family in Orlando! I would love to visit with my kids and hubby.
My daughter is obsessed with gymnastics so I feel like she would adore an acrobatic show. What an awesome experience, love that they brought a bit of cold to the sunshine state.
Looks like so much fun. I’m always looking for family fun, this seems perfect.
Just did something similar in Atlantic City to kick off my holidays! So fun! I wish I were closer to Orlando so I could check this out too!
I have wanted to go each and every year but miss it! We are not far from Orlando so I hope to score tix this year.
Looks like a fun show, it was fun I think, I’m amazed with those people who did the amazing moves.
Wow! amazing. This such a fun and exciting place to visit. My family would definitely enjoy this.
I haven’t been to ICE or Gaylord Palms before, but I have been to Kissimmee. It was 9 degrees about an hour ago here and I can’t imagine performing such remarkable acrobatic skills at that temp. The sculptures and activities sound like fun, and your pics show it is. Thanks for the heads up on “cool” Christmas fun in Florida.
oh no no! They don’t perform in those temps! lol. Just the ICE! display in a completely separate area is 9*. Thank goodness!
That looks so cool! As in cold and awesome! I know my family would have a great time!
This is such a cool idea (pun intended)! A great way to get in the Christmas spirit when it is still hot out.
Oh my goodness, ICE looks like so much fun! I would love to take the kids to experience this.
Wow! I’ve never heard of this place but it looks so fun for the holidays. Love all the costumes especially the colorful court jesters pictured.
That looks like a lot of fun! My family loves going to the Gaylord ICE near our house.
How awesome. Not a fan of the cold as you know, where I live it’s always cold but this would be really fun to see. I love shows like this, but I’ve never been able to see!
Hahaha, same here Jeanine. We live in the ICE for realz, but this show does sound wicked fun!
What a fun outing! We’ve spent the holidays before in Florida and you are right without the cold it is harder to feel Christmas. This certainly takes care of that!
No, I have never been there before! But it looks like so much fun!
What a fun way to get in the Christmas spirit! I never thought about how hard it would be to feel Christmasy with the warm weather instead of cooler weather.
I have always wanted to go to one of these shows. The costumes and dance moves are so brilliant!
This sounds like an amazing destination for a winter vacation! I would love to see that acrobatic show and all of those amazing sculptures.
I lived in Orlando/Kissimmee for a few years and never took the time to attend ICE! at the Gaylord Palms. Now that I have kids I’d love to take them so we may take a weekend trip and check it out.
Wow that Christmas tree is amazing. I would love to go with my family and stay here for a weekend. It looks like it would be so much fun.
Nope! Now, I have to go because this looks amazing!
I have never been, but that would be so much fun to go to with the family over the holidays. I love ideas of fun experiences for the whole family.
The slide room looks like so much fun! I would definitely have to drag my kids out of there.
That looks festive and fun! We are going to the one in Nashville TN soon and I cannot wait! I have been to ICE before and even though it is cold, it is an amazing experience.
I LOVE these shows! I am jealous that you got to go to see it! I hope they they come here. I totally understand the whole mother nature not giving a really christmas feel. It will be in the 70’s here.
That looks like a GREAT show! I won’t be in Florida anytime soon, unfortunately, but I would love to see it!
I’ve actually never heard of this, but it looks like a fantastic time. I think we’ll have to see this the next time we’re in the Orlando area.
That’s really cool! I’ve never seen ICE! before. I never even heard of it. Thanks for sharing this.