(Kissimmee, FL) A longtime Central Florida holiday tradition, ICE! will return on November 15. Located at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, this fan-favorite event features massive ice sculptures, walkthrough storytelling, and lots of wintery fun. While the festivities don’t officially start until later this month, the preparations are already well underway. In fact, Gaylord Palms recently welcomed a team of skilled artisans to prepare for the event.
To commemorate the arrival of these talented ice sculptors from Harbin, China; the resort organized a special reception – complete with a traditional good luck lion dance. Freaks of HHN was honored to take part in this memorable celebration, followed by an exciting sneak peek of the artists’ initial carvings. Thank you, Gaylord Palms, for including us in this awesome day!
@freaks_of_hhn ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
About The Artists
Traveling over 7,000 miles from Harbin, China (the home of the world’s largest ice and snow sculpting festival), a team of 40 artists will carve more than 2 million pounds of ice into beautiful sculptures and displays. These creators will use chainsaws, chisels, tongs, and handsaws to craft both crystal clear and precisely hued ice blocks into fanciful figures and immersive scenes.
@freaks_of_hhn ♬ Christmas Sacred Carol of the Bells(1370343) – harryfaoki
ICE! at the Gaylord Palms
An annual Christmastime event, Gaylord Palms’ ICE! is a walkthrough exhibit featuring frozen scenes and colorful characters – completely made of ice sculptures and carvings. With a snowman-friendly temperature of only 9 degrees Fahrenheit (and Resort-provided parkas to keep guests warm and comfortable), this event is an incredibly unique addition to your holiday itinerary.
*While Gaylord Palms will provide parkas for use inside the ICE! attraction, it is recommended that guests bring gloves, scarves, or other clothing items to stay warm when enjoying the ice sculptures. Closed-toed shoes are HIGHLY recommended.*
Everyone’s Favorite “Elf”
This year, ICE! will explore the classic holiday film – “Elf!” Appearing at ICE! for the very first time, the immersive, 20,000 square foot attraction will feature larger-than-life ice sculptures, sit-in photo opportunities, and approximately a dozen scenes from Buddy’s journey to New York City. In addition to the iconic Buddy the Elf, guests will encounter fun characters like Papa Elf, Mr. Narwhal, Jovie, Walter Hobbs, and of course, Santa Claus.
“ICE! is a favorite tradition of many of our guests here at Gaylord Palms and we are excited to introduce them to the beloved world of ‘Elf’ this Christmas,” said Ross Barker, the resort’s general manager. “The 9-degree attraction provides a one-of-a-kind experience for friends and family to enjoy together, and complements the many other family friendly activities, events, live shows and dining experiences we have planned this holiday season.”
Getting Tickets to ICE! at the Gaylord Palms
ICE! will run from November 15, 2024 – January 4, 2025. Tickets start at $29.99 for adults and $17.99 for children. Onsite resort guests have access to exclusive perks including front-of-the-line access, early entry, and other special experiences. Visit ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com to purchase your ICE! admission and peruse available vacation packages.
ICE! is just one of many holiday-themed activities and events coming to the Gaylord Palms Resort. Visit ChristmasatGaylordPalms.com for more information about specialty dining, live entertainment, and other festive seasonal offerings.
