July 24, 2025
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — For the very first time, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ will be featured at Gaylord Palms Resort in 2 million pounds of intricately carved ice sculptures in ICE!, the resort's signature holiday attraction. The 20,000-square-foot yuletide tradition, the centerpiece of the annual "Christmas at Gaylord Palms" celebration, takes place from Nov. 14, 2025-Jan. 7, 2026.
The attraction will feature approximately one dozen larger-than-life scenes from the classic 1964 stop-motion animated television special. A team of 40 expert ice carvers from Harbin, China, will work inside the 9-degree Fahrenheit environment for more than a month to create the walk-through attraction.
And while Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ has been previously featured in ICE! at other Gaylord Hotels across the U.S., it has never appeared at Gaylord Palms, and this year's attraction also
has undergone a major redesign to create an all-new experience. ICE! designers reconfigured scenes and added interactive features that allow guests to become a part of the action - providing memorymaking moments and sharable photos for family and friends. Guests can stay inside the attraction for as long as they would like.
"Our ICE! attraction and the entire Christmas at Gaylord Palms celebration have become beloved holiday traditions for so many of our guests," said Ross Barker, general manager of Gaylord Palms
Resort. "This year, we're especially excited to debut Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™, one of the most treasured holiday specials of all time. With its heartwarming message and iconic characters, it's a perfect
fit for our celebration. We can't wait for the team of talented ice carvers to bring this magical story to life in a truly memorable way."
Just like the famous television special, ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ follows Rudolph and Hermey the Elf as they set off for an adventure filled with friendship, courage, acceptance
and belonging. Along the way, they meet favorite holiday characters like Yukon Cornelius, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, and of course, Santa Claus.
ICE! made its Gaylord Palms debut in 2003 and is currently featured at six locations nationwide. Tickets and special room and ticket packages are now on sale at ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com.
Inside ICE!, overnight and day guests can walk-through approximately one dozen different scenes, some soaring as high as three stories, as they follow Rudolph's epic journey. Along the way, ICE! guests can crawl through a snow-covered tunnel, play a tune alongside giant ice sculptures of Santa Claus and Rudolph, step into a crystal-clear gift box made of ice to become one of the famed Misfit Toys and climb into the arms of the giant Bumble. A favorite feature of ICE! each year is the slide room, with two-story-tall slides made of solid ice. Sharp-eyed guests are challenged to locate a "secret slide" inside the room that instantly transports them to the next scene.
And while the entire attraction is made of solid ice and the freezing temperature is a steady 9-degrees Fahrenheit (the optimum temperature to maintain the ice sculptures for the whole holiday season), guests are provided a signature Gaylord Palms blue winter parka to help keep them warm. (Guests are encouraged to bring and wear additional winter clothing, such as hats and gloves). Guests can also learn more about the ice carving process inside the attraction at Carver's Showcase, a wintry workshop where master artisans carve throughout the day to showcase the unique craft. ICE! culminates in a separate area featuring a stunning Nativity scene, beautifully carved from crystal-clear ice and backed by a powerful soundtrack.
Creating ICE! each year is a team of nearly 40 world-renowned carvers that travel more than 7,000 miles from Harbin, China, to Kissimmee, Fla. Known as "Ice City," Harbin is no stranger to elaborate ice carvings - it's home to the world's largest annual snow and ice carving festival. At Gaylord Palms, artisans will carve approximately 6,700 blocks of ice - each weighing 300 pounds - into the larger-than-life, whimsical scenes. Carvers will use tools of all shapes and sizes, including chainsaws, chisels, tongs, handsaws, hand tools and grinders, to bring the story to life.
The bright colors of the ice are created by a chemist who mixes special food colorings to ensure each sculpture maintains its vivid color the entire season. Gaylord Hotels begins freezing and coloring ice at various facilities across the country in July and deliver 1,000 tons to each resort in early autumn. It will take the team of ice artisans approximately 35 to 40 days to completely carve the attraction. Additionally, a dedicated lighting director works with attraction architects and ice carvers to add creative illumination to each scene and even embed LED lights inside sculptures to add dramatic effects. Snow Much More!
In addition to the ICE! attraction, a sleigh-full of events and activities is planned across the 65-acre Gaylord Palms Resort. Christmas shows and activities are presented in the atrium, while areas of the convention center transform into Alpine Village, a bustling holiday hamlet with Bavarian-style storefronts, immersive activities and one of Florida's largest annual Christmas shops.
Here's a rundown of the events and activities planned for this year's celebration:
Spotlight Shines on Holiday Fun
Yule Be Amazed with a Brand-New Show
• New this year: A new cirque spectacle comes to life in the Gaylord Palms atrium with the debut of "POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance." This immersive, cirque holiday show and experience, created by Broadway director and "Cirque Dreams" founder Neil Goldberg, will be presented inside the Gaylord Palms atrium Nov. 14, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026. The show is based on the POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance book series and TV special. Audiences will be transported to a whimsical world where three best friends study music, magic, and circus arts at a secret university. To spread their lessons throughout the world, the trio embarks on an adventure that brings the book's illustrations to life with animation and amazing performances. "POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance" features a cast of 19 performers including acrobats, magicians, high-flying acts and enchanting characters. More than 50 elaborate costumes are showcased in gravitydefying circus feats, spellbinding magic and Broadway theatrics set to an original musical score.
• Atrium Lights, Caroling Nights
The skies above Gaylord Palms' atrium come alive in the "Here We Glow A-Caroling Light Show" Giant LED light curtains above the atrium and the 60-foot-tall atrium Christmas tree come to life in this animated show, accompanied by a soundtrack of favorite Christmas carols.
• St. Nick Takes ‘Santa' Stage
Guests can chat with the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus, to make sure they've secured a spot on his prestigious Nice List. Santa will meet guests inside Alpine Village from Nov. 14 through Dec. 24 - before he heads back to the North Pole for his annual, gift-giving journey.
• Songs and Sweet Treats Delight
The jolliest hostess of all stars in Mrs. Claus' Christmas Traditions. Mrs. Claus entertains guests in Alpine Village with a sing-along and storytelling of the Christmas tale, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." She also shares Santa's favorite snack - milk and cookies - with guests.
• Storytelling Celebration, Set to Song
Guests can experience a retelling of the birth of Jesus Christ through the eyes of six storytellers in "The Greatest Story," a musical stage show and celebration of faith and everlasting love.
• Meet Winter Wildlife
Guests can get up-close to some of Florida's famous animals in Wintertime Animal Encounters and learn how wildlife in the Sunshine State adapts to the colder temperatures and contributes to the ecosystem during the winter months.
Tons of Fun at Interactive Attractions
• Winter Wonders Await
A snowy play space awaits guests in the Snow Factory, open this year from Nov. 14, 2025-Jan. 1, 2025. After climbing Snow Flow Mountain, guests hop in inner-tubes and speed down atop real ice. (Admission allows unlimited ice tubing rides on the date on the ticket.) Guests can also head over to Snowball Build & Blast, where conveyor belts deliver tubs of real snow for guests to make snowballs and toss them at targets.
• A Holiday Heist!
Friends and family test their wintry wits in the Naughty or Nice Escape Room. Trickster Jack Frost has added new names to Santa's Naughty List. However, if guests can sneak into Santa's office and solve a series of puzzles, Jack will remove their names from the Naughty List. Guests need to put on their holiday thinking caps, solve the mystery, and then dash away, dash away, dash away all!
Hands-On Holiday Fun
• Dough-licious Decorating
In the Gingerbread Decorating Corner, guests let their Christmas creativity run wild while they adorn gingerbread treats. After they've reached confection perfection, they can enjoy a meet-andgreet and photograph with Nutmeg the Gingerbread Cookie.
• Chill Out with Chocolate
Also new this year - the Jack Frost Chocolate Factory, a taste-tempting, interactive experience where guests can make a pair of chocolate snowflakes - one to keep and one to gift.
• Have Your Elf a Merry Little Christmas
Guests can get crafty in Elf Training Academy. One of Santa's top toymakers joins the fun as guests put their creativity to work and make a special keepsake gift to take home.
• A Very Beary Christmas!
Guests can experience Build-A-Bear Workshop®. Guests make their own furry friend, take part in the iconic Heart Ceremony, and personalize them with seasonal outfits, accessories, sounds and scents.
• Seasonal Scavenger Hunt Fun
Families can work together to find all the clues hidden in Gaylord Palms in the Reindeer Games™ Scavenger Hunt. The Misfit Toys are lost, and guests follow clues to help find them by solving puzzles in their booklet. Guests receive a special holiday prize for completing the quest.
Overnight Stays Sweeten the Holidays
• Rooms with a Yuletide View
Guests who book upgraded atrium views receive some of the best holiday rooms - and seats! - in the house. With balconies that overlook acres of Christmas décor, guests can immerse themselves in the festive surroundings. Select rooms even provide prime balcony viewing for atrium shows such as "POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance," the "Here We Glow A-Caroling" light show spectacle and "The Greatest Story."
• Ready, Set, Glow!
The night will light up at Gaylord Palms with more than 3 million sparkling, holiday lights. In total, more than 100 decorated Christmas trees will be on display, including the centerpiece, 60-foot-tall tree in the main atrium, and elaborately themed trees along the atrium's Christmas Tree Trail.
• More Perks for Overnight Guests
Gaylord Palms offers another perk to overnight guests, so they can wait less and enjoy more.
o Overnight guests receive "Chill Pass" privileges to the ICE! attraction, offering front-ofline access and shorter wait times. "Chill Pass" is free for eligible overnight guests. Attraction tickets are required and sold separately, in advance.
Holiday Dining for Resort Guests: Eat, Drink and Be Cranberry
Overnight guests at Gaylord Palms also have exclusive opportunities to enjoy holiday dining experiences. (Advance reservations are highly recommended.):
• Thanksgiving Dinner, scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, is a plentiful buffet at Villa de Flora, located in the heart of the garden atrium. Traditional Thanksgiving favorites will be featured for overnight resort guests, along with dishes inspired by cuisine from Spain, France and Italy.
• Resort guests can enjoy Christmas Dinner on Dec. 25 with a dazzling holiday feast at Villa de Flora restaurant featuring chef stations, holiday traditions and modern Mediterranean cuisine.
• Overnight resort guests can ring in the New Year 2026 in style in Dec. 31 at Villa de Flora with the New Year's Eve Buffet, with a bountiful buffet featuring fresh and seasonal food inside the glass enclosed atrium.
Christmas Merchandise Magic
• In Alpine Village, one of the largest holiday shops in the Sunshine State opens each year just for the "Christmas at Gaylord Palms" celebration. Market Square features wall-to-wall holiday gifts, collectibles, toys, plush, home décor, apparel, ornaments, "ICE!"-branded souvenirs, and more. Alpine Village will be open Nov. 14, 2025-Jan. 7, 2026.
Year-Round Fun
In addition to the fun of the Christmas celebration, guests can enjoy many year-round amenities. In addition to the 4.5-acre indoor atrium, the resort features the luxurious Relâche Spa and exciting Cypress Springs Water Park - a 3-acre water wonderland. Pools are heated for year-round fun in the water wonderland.
Unwrap Holiday Resort Packages and Purchase Advance Tickets
Also being unwrapped for "Christmas at Gaylord Palms": holiday packages that include special room rates and admission to select events. Guests are encouraged to book their experiences early, as advance online reservations are required for all ticketed events. Admission is limited to many of the holiday experiences and showtimes. For tickets, detailed event schedules, and to book an overnight stay, guests may visit ChristmasatGaylordPalms.com.
