Gaylord Palms Christmas Celebrations 2022

Between November 18, 2022 and January 1, 2023, the Gaylord Palms resort hotel in Orlando presents their annual “Christmas at Gaylord Palms”.

For many years now, the highlight is the spectacular walk-through holiday attraction called “ICE!” carved from around two million pounds of ice.

As well as ICE!, the Gaylord Palms has put together an amazing collection of holiday activities, shows and events.

The Gaylord Palms is decorated for the holiday season with over three million sparkling lights and over 100 Christmas trees adorned with thousands of decorations. They even have Christmas trees inside the revolving entrance doors to the hotel.

The whole place has a festive atmosphere with classic Christmas music and falling “snow”.

Christmas at Gaylord Palms Attractions

The Gaylord Palms has kept some of the attractions, activities and shows from previous years and introduced several new ones.

Whilst admission to the Alpine Village is free, some of the attractions, shows and activities are separately charged and there is no onsite booking office again this year.

This means that all tickets have to be booked online in advance, mostly for a specific date and time so make sure you plan out your visit carefully. Most activities take place from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

As well as purchasing tickets to individual attractions, you can also purchase passes which give you access to a number of attractions depending upon the level of the pass (more details below).

ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

The centrepiece of the Gaylord Palms Christmas is the massive ice sculptures. “ICE!” makes a welcome return in 2022 after a two year absence due to COVID-19 and the subsequent travel restrictions.

This year it is “ICE! featuring How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” and it runs daily from November 18, 2022 and January 1, 2023 between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Harbin, known as the “Ice City” is home to the annual International Ice and Snow Festival where over 2,000 sculptors create a 100 acre ice park, using ice from the nearby Songhua River.

The ice sculptures are spread over around nine different scenes from the Dr. Seuss story, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” starting with Mount Crumpit and Who-ville and then culminating in the traditional Gaylord Palms Nativity scene carved in crystal clear ice.

This year there are even five two-story frozen chutes inside the ICE! exhibit that both adults and children can slide down.

Amongst the characters you can see are The Grinch, his dog Max and Cindy-Lou Who.

Note that the temperature inside the ice sculpture hall is a frosty 9 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 13 degrees Celsius). Expect to spend between 20 and 40 minutes walking around the 20,000 sq ft exhibit.

It is advisable to dress sensibly with closed toe shoes and long trousers/pants. Hats and gloves are also recommended. Complimentary calf-length blue hooded winter coats/parkas are provided in a range of sizes (up to 4XL) to cope with the chilly temperatures.

Apart from the steps leading up to the slides, all areas are carpeted. Wheelchairs and strollers are admitted.

Prices are from $29.99 to $36.99 per adult and $19.99 to $23.99 per child (aged 4–12), plus tax and time slots are available every 15 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. weekdays and until 7:45 pm. weekends.

Children aged 3 and under are free with a paying adult and special prices are available for groups of ten or more.

If you plan on purchasing tickets to some of the other paid attractions then check out the Play & Save Passes (see below) to get a discount.

You can also watch some of the ice sculptors from Harbin demonstrating their amazing skills in the “Frostbite Factory”.

Snow Factory

Across from the Alpine Village is the Snow Factory where you can go ice tubing at the “Snow Flow Mountain”, throw snowballs at the “Snowball Build and Blast” and enjoy a cocktail at the Snow Bar.

Because of all the real snow, it is a lot cooler in this area and anyone who has played with snowballs will know just how cold your hands can get!

Snow Flow Mountain

The whole area is themed like a factory with snow machinery and conveyor belts.

Snow tubing was first introduced in 2014 when there was an eight lane Alpine Rush Snow Tubing downhill run covered in real snow. You could ride singly or there were double tubes for parents with small children. In the evenings there was music and flashing lights at the “Cosmic Snow Tubing” event.

In 2022 there are six lanes, all single riders tubes. There are no double rider tubes this year.

It is a separately ticketed event with prices from $24.99 plus tax per person which gives you unlimited rides during operating hours on the day of your choice.

To ride you must be at least 42” tall, you have to be able to walk up the ramp to the top of the slides, you have to wear closed-toe shoes and you have to accept an “Assumption of Risk/Release” waiver.

Snowball Build and Blast

At the “Snowball Build and Blast” you get a bucket of real snow and you have to make snowballs and then throw them (3 minutes against the clock) at targets to score points and help boost the power of the snowmaking machines. Previously this was known as Santa’s Snow Throw.

There are two separate sets of targets so you can compete against another team.

It is a separately ticketed event with prices from $14.99 plus tax per bucket. Multiple guests can share a bucket and you have to reserve a specific time slot on a specific date.

Snow Bar & Alpine Lodge Bar

In the Alpine Village, next to the Snow Flow Mountain is the “Snow Bar”.

It serves a range of special holiday cocktails and mocktails including:

• The North Pole — Smirnoff Vodka, Kahlua and pumpkin
• Santa’s Little Helper — Bacardi Rum, coconut and vanilla
• Joyful Toast – Wild Turkey Bourbon, lemon and apple

There are also soft drinks, draft beers, wines, mulled wine and prosecco.

Alpine Village

The Alpine Village is the main hub of activities at Christmas at Gaylord Palms.

Christmas at Gaylord Palms Merchandise

At “Market Square Retail” you will find one of Florida’s largest Christmas shops with a large range of Christmas gifts and ornaments for sale.

Photos with Santa By DEI

You can meet Santa Claus in Santas Workshop in the Alpine Village and you must purchase a photo package. No personal photos are allowed.

Because of Santa’s Christmas schedule he is only available until December 24.

Photo package prices start at $35.00 and there are four different package options:

• Tree Package — Three 6×8” photos for $35.00
• Christmas Package — Digital images only for $50.00
• Santa Package — Three 6×8” Photos plus four wallets, a photo frame, an ornament and digital images for $70.00
• Gaylord Holiday Special — Three 6×8” Photos plus all digital photos for Santa and ICE!

Note you have to book in advance and reserve a specific time slot on a specific date. Time slots are every 15 minutes from 10:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.

All package prices are plus tax and photos can include multiple guests.

Snowy’s Snack Shack

At “Auntie Anne’s” you can buy hand-baked pretzels, Cinnabons, cups of Mike’s Italian Ice and hot chocolate.

Christmas at Gaylord Palms Activities

There are a number of activities, many of them especially for children.

Elf Training Academy

In the Alpine Workshop is the “Elf Training Academy” where you become one of Santa’s little helpers and create a special gift by decorating one of several different items with water-based paints.

Ornaments include a wooden train and a Christmas snowflake ornament and you get to keep it when you are done. A toy-maker Elf is on hand to help.

The price is $18.99 plus tax per decorating kit and multiple guests can share a kit.

Time slots are available every half hour between 9:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. daily and you have to reserve a specific time slot on a specific date.

Gingerbread Decorating Corner

Across the street is the “Gingerbread Decorating Corner” in the Alpine Sweetshop where you can choose between four different kits for decorating:

• Pack of two Gingerbread Kids Cookie Kit at $26.99
• Giant Gingerbread Man Cookie Kit at $34.99
• Set of eight Snow Globe Sugar Cookie Kit at $34.99
• Pre-built Gingerbread House Kit at $36.99

When you have finished decorating your gingerbread gift you can meet and get a photo with Nutmeg, the Gingerbread Man.

The price is from $26.99 plus tax per decorating kit and multiple guests can share one kit.

Time slots are available every half hour between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily and you have to reserve a specific time slot on a specific date.

Build-A-Bear Workshop

At the “Build-A-Bear Workshop®” you can create a your very own customised soft plush toy.

You start with your preferred soft toy and then you can enhance it with clothes and shoes, sounds and scents and finally accessories.

Prices vary depending upon the plush toy and accessories selected. A typical Build-A-Bear plush toy ranges in price between $10 and $50 and then accessories are individually priced on top of that.

The Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt

This year the scavenger hunt is themed on The Grinch. Your mission is to stop the Grinch stealing all the Christmas presents by solving all the clues and puzzles and finding the decorations.

When you have successfully finished the hunt you get a prize which can be redeemed at the Alpine Village Guest Services.

The price is $14.99 plus tax per scavenger hunt booklet and you have to reserve a specific date.

Wildlife Rescue – An Augmented Reality Experience presented by Bubly™

One of the new experiences is an augmented reality safari where families can learn about endangered animals as they explore the atrium.

“Wildlife Rescue” is free of charge.

Naughty or Nice Escape Room

You have 25 minutes to sneak into Santa’s office and solve all the riddles to make sure your name is taken off the naughty list.

The Escape Room is recommended for children aged 10 and above and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

The price starts at $120.00 plus tax for a group of four guests up to $234.94 for a maximum of ten guests. The minimum number of guests per experience is four and if less than four then you have to pay for four guests.

Time slots are available every hour between 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. daily and you have to reserve a specific time slot on a specific date.

Christmas Tree Trail

Another free activity in the atrium, is the “Christmas Tree Trail”. There are eight beautifully decorated holiday trees to see.

Christmas Shows at Gaylord Palms

There are a range of Christmas shows, some of which are complimentary.

Shine Light Show

The “Shine Light Show” takes place in the main St. Augustine atrium with its incredible glass roof.

There are over two million choreographed lights and lasers that dance to the music as the 6 storey high 60 foot Christmas tree which towers above the Emerald Bay Plaza is brought to life.

The show is free to all and if you are staying at the Gaylord Palms and have an Emerald Bay Atrium View room overlooking the atrium you can even watch it from your balcony.

The show takes place nightly at 7:30 p.m., 8:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.

It was first introduced in 2015 as “A Christmas Wish Light Show”.

Cirque: Spirit of Christmas

Also in the St. Augustine Atrium at the Emerald Bay Plaza is the 35 minute “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas” family show which brings together Broadway style “Cirque” theatrical performers, acrobats and aerialists.

The story is centred around a child called Noel who is visited by spirits.

The show is performed at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. each day. On select weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) and then every day from December 17 until December 25 there is an extra performance at 8:15 p.m.

Prices start at $7.99 for adults and $4.99 for children on select weekday dates with normal prices being from $19.99 to $38.99 for adults and from $13.99 to $27.99 for children, depending upon the seat location.

There are four classes of seat location; Standard, Preferred, Premium and Elite with the Elite tickets offering the best experience.

All prices are plus tax and prices vary by date and time and you have to reserve specific seats for a specific time slot on a specific date.

The Greatest Story Stage Show

Six story tellers from around the world share their story of faith, hope and joy in this multi-cultural musical stage show, “The Greatest Story” celebrating the story of Christ.

The show lasts about 25 minutes and is performed in the St. Augustine Atrium at the Emerald Bay Plaza at 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. on weekdays and at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Free seats are available on a first-come first-served basis but you can also reserve a seat.

Guaranteed seat prices are $13.99 per person plus tax and you have to reserve for a specific time slot on a specific date.

Note the last performance of The Greatest Story is on December 25. From December 26 it is replaced by Three Kings Festival.

The Journey of Los Tres Reyes Magos Stage Show

The “Three Kings Festival” also known as “The Journey of Los Tres Reyes Magos” runs from December 26, 2022 through to January 1, 2023.

This inspiring musical celebration retells the Christmas story of the three Wise Men and their journey to meet Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus in Bethlehem and the Spanish and Latin American celebrations surrounding it; el Día de los Reyes and Las Posadas.

The show is performed in the St. Augustine Atrium at the Emerald Bay Plaza at 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. each day.

Free seats are available on a first-come first-served basis but you can reserve a seat.

Guaranteed seat prices are $12.99 per person plus tax and you have to reserve for a specific time slot on a specific date.

Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions

First introduced in 2016, the 30 minute show, “Mrs. Claus Christmas Traditions” has Mrs. Santa Claus reading from the story of the Christmas classic ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas plus you can join in with sing-along Christmas carols and play games. A friendly Elf called Snowflake is there to help.

Each performance ends with a glass of ice cold milk and a chocolate chip cookie and takes place multiple times each day in the Alpine Village near the entrance.

Price is $16.99 plus tax per person and you have to reserve a specific time slot on a specific date.

Time slots are available every 45 minutes between 10:15 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. daily and note that children must be accompanied by a ticketed adult.

Adventure Kids: Wonders of Winter

“Adventure Kids: Wonders of Winter” is a complimentary show for kids and take place on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Join Adventure Kid Sophie and her friends Ava the Alligator and Seth the Sea Turtle as they explore the wonders of winter.

Christmas at Gaylord Palms Dining and Drinking

There are plenty of locations to enjoy a drink or a bite to eat at the Gaylord Palms Resort.

The open-air Villa de Flora restaurant in the St. Augustine Atrium has an open kitchen and new patios. It is themed as a Mediterranean seaside restaurant and is offering special all inclusive buffet meals for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.

In 2022 you have to be an overnight hotel guest to be able to reserve a table at the Grinch Character Breakfast, Thanksgiving Dining, Christmas Day Buffet or New Year’s Eve Dinner

Feast with the Grinch Character Breakfast

It you want to meet the Grinch and Max then what better way is there than to start your day at a “Feast with the Grinch Character Breakfast” at the open-air Villa de Flora restaurant under the St. Augustine Atrium.

Whilst you enjoy your chef-attended breakfast buffet, you can enjoy visits from The Grinch and Max. As well as classic American breakfast favourites there are also some Who-ville inspired menu options.

Prices are $45.00 per adult and $28.00 per child (aged 4–12), plus tax and 18% service charge. Children aged 3 and under are free with a paying adult.

The experience includes a souvenir photo and the characters come around the tables.

Breakfast is served most Saturdays and Sundays and then daily from December 17 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and you have to reserve a specific time slot on a specific date.

Thanksgiving Dining at Villa de Flora

Villa de Flora is offering an attended buffet style “Thanksgiving Brunch” on Thanksgiving Day featuring a home-cooked meal with fresh and seasonal food stations inspired by the cuisines of France, Italy and Spain.

The price is $80.00 plus tax per adult and $40.00 plus tax per child (aged 4 to 12) and is exclusive of an 18% gratuity.

Reservations can be made for between 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Christmas Day Buffet at Villa de Flora

Villa de Flora is offering a similar buffet style “Christmas Brunch” on Christmas Day serving a traditional holiday menu as well as their Mediterranean buffet.

The price is $80.00 plus tax per adult and $40.00 plus tax per child (aged 4 to 12) and is exclusive of an 18% gratuity.

Reservations can be made for between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Dinner at Villa de Flora

For New Year’s Eve, you can enjoy a dinner buffet rather than a brunch buffet.

The price is $90.00 plus tax per adult and $45.00 plus tax per child (aged 4 to 12) and is exclusive of an 18% gratuity.

Reservations can be made for between 5:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Gaylord Palms Resort Guest Perks

If you are an overnight resort guest then you can take advantage of the various special occasion dining options like the Grinch Character Breakfast, Thanksgiving Dining, Christmas Day Buffet or New Year’s Eve Dinner which are only available to resort guests.

Guest with an atrium-view room can marvel at the lights on the 60 foot Christmas tree in the atrium and watch some of the shows from their balcony.

All guests can take advantage of the “Extra Cool Hour” which is a bit like Disney’s Extra Magic Hours. You get access to a number of attractions one hour before the official opening times:

• ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
• Snow Flow Mountain
• Gingerbread Decorating Corner
• Snowball Build & Blast
• Elf Training Academy
  -Market Square Christmas shop

Note you still need to purchase the appropriate tickets.

Another perk is the complimentary “Chill Pass” which gives you front of line access to ICE!

Christmas at Gaylord Palms Play & Save Bundles

If you are planning to go to a few of the attractions or activities then you can save money by buying either a Silver or Gold “Christmas at Gaylord Palms Play & Save Pass”. If you are happy to visit midweek, then there are even more savings to be made with a “Weekday Play & Save Pass”.

Note that neither the Silver or the Gold Pass gives you reserved seating at the main stage shows; Cirque: Spirit of Christmas, The Greatest Story Stage Show or The Journey of Los Tres Reyes Magos Stage Show.

Silver Play & Save Pass

The “Silver Play & Save Pass” gives you 20% discount and access to three attractions:

• ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
• Ice Tubing on Snow Flow Mountain
• The Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt

Gold Play & Save Pass

The “Gold Play & Save Pass” gives you 30% discount and access to everything on the Silver Pass plus a further four attractions:

• ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
• Ice Tubing on Snow Flow Mountain
• The Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt
• Snowball Build and Blast
• Gingerbread Decorating Corner
• Elf Training Academy
• Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions

There is also a Weekday Play & Save Pass that is available of select dates (Monday to Thursday); November 28 to December 1, December 5 to 8 and December 12 to 15 and can save you up to 55% on the normal prices.

The Weekday Play & Save Pass gives you access to four attractions:

• ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas™
• Cirque: Spirit of Christmas
• The Greatest Story Stage Show
• The Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt

With all the Passes, you select a start date and end date and then the individual date and time slots for each attraction included in the bundle.

Christmas at Gaylord Palms Parking

The charge for self parking for day visitors is $30.00 and for valet parking it is $40.00. If you spend $50.00 or more at dinner at some restaurants then they will validate your parking ticket saving you the parking charge.

ICE! History

The first rendition of ICE! was in 2003 but with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, anyone who had spent the last 14 days in China was not allowed to travel to the USA so the ICE! attraction had to be cancelled.

The Gaylord Palms had hoped to resurrect it in 2021 but this was prevented by ongoing travel restrictions from other countries including China.

For historical interest, here are the themes of the last few years:

• 2019 — “The Polar Express” from the Warner Brothers film
• 2018 — “A Christmas Story” from the classic holiday movie
• 2017 — “Christmas Around the World”
• 2016 — “A Charlie Brown Christmas” from the Peanuts cartoons by Charles Schulz
• 2015 — “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” re-appeared, it was last shown in 2010
• 2014 — “Nutcracker Suite” ballet complete with Tchaikovsky musical score
• 2013 — “Frosty the Snowman” based on the animated TV special from 1969
• 2012 — ”Merry Madagascar” based on the film of the same name and featuring Dreamworks’ characters from the Madagascar animated films. Merry Madagascar is an animated short film released in 2009 and the story tells of Santa Claus and his reindeer crash-landing in Madagascar on Christmas Eve. Alex the lion and his friends then have to help Santa deliver all the presents
• 2011 — “Shrek the Halls” from DreamWorks

Also new for 2013 was the Frostbite Factory featuring “Artisans in Ice” where you could watch some of the ice sculptors from Harbin, China demonstrating their amazing skills.

In 2011, Gaylord Palms also ran the Kung Fu Panda Awesome SNOW attraction featuring underground snow tunnels, bridges and a 64-foot pagoda slide.

I Love Christmas Movies™

In 2020, in the absence of ICE!, the Gaylord Palms introduced the “I Love Christmas Movies” attraction, a 20 to 25 minute socially distanced guided interactive journey through 13 festive fully immersive film sets with scenes from Elf™, The Year Without A Santa Claus™, A Christmas Story™, The Polar Express™, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation™ and ending with a nativity scene.

Each group was guided by a “production assistant” who took you through the sets one room at a time starting with Santa’s Workshop from Elf.

The sets contained replica film props and were accompanied by soundtracks from the movies. Special effects included snow and smoke and there were plenty of opportunities for photos.

I Love Christmas Movies was located in the Alpine Village and ran for the entire duration of the Christmas at Gaylord Palms event.