Considered one of Central Florida's most quintessential holiday experiences, Christmas at Gaylord Palms returns today for 52 days of Christmassy excitement inside one giant festive wonderland. As always, Gaylord Palms raises the bar year after year, adding new experiences and elevating its annual traditions. Christmas at Gaylord Palms presented by Pepsi is open daily from November 16, 2018 through January 6, 2019, including holidays. Here's what's new this year:
ICE! Featuring A Christmas Story
For the first time ever, the resort’s signature experience ICE! will feature the beloved holiday film “A Christmas Story.” Brought to life by ice artisans from Harbin, China, this year's theme is recreated in a colorful frozen showcase, with hand-carved ice sculptures depicting movie scenes throughout the immersive (and very chilly) 9-degree attraction.
A few tips: bring a hat and gloves to keep cozy while inside, and switch your phone over to airplane mode to preserve battery life while you take photos and video.
Tickets are $28.99 per adult (use promo code FLR18 to save $3 on ICE! tickets when purchased online in advance).
Dreams of Christmas Light Show
Gaylord Palms’ St. Augustine atrium is home to a brand new dazzling light show, Dreams of Christmas, making its debut. This multi-sensory experience features a new musical score accompanied by millions of dancing, choreographed lights surrounding the resort’s six-story Christmas tree. Shows are free and happen nightly.
Adults-Only Polar Dash Party
This year Gaylord Palms has added something just for grown-ups. On Thursday, December 13, 2018, the resort will host its first nighttime Polar Dash party, an adults-only evening featuring the chance to experience the frozen world of ICE! in an unconventional way – in your swimsuit! Grab your sweetie and your friends and don your beachwear for this mishmash of Florida fun in a winter wonderland as you dash through the 9-degree attraction. You’ll also have access to eight snow tubing lanes and themed cocktails at the cash bar. Guests will also enjoy free hot chocolate and a live DJ. Details and tickets here.
Santa Scavenger Hunt
Scour the resort decoding clues to find hidden Santa characters during the all-new Secret Santa Scavenger Hunt. Guests will utilize a Santa’s Secret Service Decoder Ring to decipher clues hidden throughout the resort’s atrium. $9.99 per booklet
Naughty or Nice Escape Room
Great for participants of any age, the new Naughty or Nice Escape Room has guests finding clues and cracking codes with a (sometimes mischievous) Jack Frost in the room to help or heed the sleuthing. Teams work together to follow the clues and solve the puzzles before the time on the clock runs out!
$15.99 per person
RETURNING FAVORITES
Sounds of the Season Concert Series
For the second year, Christmas at Gaylord Palms will host its Sounds of the Season Concert Series presented by Celebration Golf Club.
- Grammy award winner Sandi Patty (Dec. 5)
- Vocalist Deejay Young (Dec. 6)
- A cappella group Voctave (Dec. 12)
- Christmas movies Holidays in Hollywood (Dec. 18)
- Pop star moms 4eva29 (Dec. 19)
- Theatrical vocals of VoicePlay (Dec. 20)
All performances include a concert patron-exclusive admission to the ICE! attraction. Tickets start at $25 per person.
Cirque Dreams Unwrapped
“Holiday thrills” take on a whole new meaning during Cirque Dreams Unwrapped, a 25-minute action-packed experience featuring soaring acrobatics, theatricality and imagination that will have guests on the edge of their seats. Cirque Dreams Unwrapped features new acts and performers each year to bring to life a magical and timeless Christmas wonderland, all imagined by Broadway director and renowned Cirque Dreams founder Neil Goldberg. FREE (guaranteed seating from $15.99 per adult)
Christmas Tree Trail
Guests exploring the meandering paths inside the resort’s Everglades atrium will find the Christmas Tree Trail, a display of nine magnificent trees provided by Balsam HillTM. FREE
Holiday Dining and Decor inside the Atrium
Gaylord Palms' 4.5-acre soaring glass atrium is decked out beyond compare. Plan to spend some time wandering through the festive space and consider dining at Moor, Old Hickory Steakhouse or Socio as part of your visit.
Also returning this year:
- Gingerbread Decorating Corner (now located inside the NEW Alpine Village Sweet Shop)
- Santa’s Snow Throw
- Snow Tubing
OVERNIGHT PACKAGES
One-night packages start at $250 plus tax, resort fee and parking. Packages include ICE! tickets for two (with option to add additional adults or children) plus a souvenir family photo. Overnight guests may also schedule a visit to ICE! during the daily hotel guest-exclusive Extra Cool Hour from 9am to 10am.
DETAILS
Christmas at Gaylord Palms
November 16, 2018 through January 6, 2019
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
6000 W Osceola Pkwy
Kissimmee, FL 34746
For additional information and to book packages or tickets, visit ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com.