[b1wife]

We saw this advertised when we stayed at the Gaylord in August, and it looked like a lot of fun!

ICE! at Gaylord Palms
An exciting highlight of our Best of Florida Christmas celebration!

November 17, 2008 – January 4, 2009
Open daily including holidays, hours vary.

Who says the holidays in Florida are all about sunshine and palm trees? Prepare for the coolest winter on record as Gaylord Palms presents ICE!, a walk-through attraction hand-carved from nearly TWO MILLION pounds of ice.

Explore a whimsical winter wonderland of larger-than-life, three-dimensional hand-carved ice monuments and sculptures, including fantastic frozen creations, slippery ice slides, and memorable holiday scenes. As for the chill, visitors are given oversized parkas to stay comfortable inside the attraction, which is kept at a blustery 9 degrees. In its sixth season, ICE! will reflect the theme "Santa's Arctic Blast," featuring several scenes that star "Jolly Cold Saint Nicholas" himself. One such scene is an oversized "Santa's knee" photo opportunity that's likely to be the most photographed element inside the attraction. Another guest favorite, the ICE! castle and slides, have been re-designed to celebrate Santa's Christmas Eve flight... reindeer and all.

The attraction's signature scene, a life-size Nativity carved completely of crystal-clear ice, has been described as one of the most breathtaking depictions of the birth of Christ. Dramatic lighting and a stirring narrative track give guests an opportunity to pause and reflect on the story behind the season.

The attraction is carved by a team of 40 artisans from Harbin, China. The talented artisans spend more than a month in Kissimmee creating this one-of-a-kind attraction. Harbin is best known for its annual International Ice and Snow Festival, where more than 2,000 sculptors annually carve a 100-acre walk-through Ice Park from ice taken from the Songhua River.

ICE! is open daily from November 17 through January 4, including holidays. Tickets for ICE! are on sale now. For the lowest ticket prices, purchase your tickets in advance, online! For more information or to purchase your tickets by phone, call 407-586-4-ICE (423). (It looked like most tickets were around $20.)

NOTE: ICE! is kept at a frigid 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to dress appropriately: closed-toe shoes and long pants are required. Hooded winter coats will be provided for your warmth and comfort inside the attraction. Hats and gloves are suggested, and can be purchased on-site at the ICE! gift shop.

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