One of the best holiday displays in America is just over an hour outside of St. Pete. Every year, thousands make the drive to Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee (6000 W Osceola Pkwy) to experience the venue’s fabulous and intricate holiday decor.
This year, The Polar Express™ returns for the hotel’s immersive Christmas experience, ice!. The 20,000-square-foot, immersive winter wonderland experience is carved from more than two million pounds of ice, featuring nine different glistening and interactive scenes from the beloved holiday film, all alongside activities like ice tubing, a Christmas carousel, scavenger hunts, stage productions and more. Following its 35-day buildout, ice! will be open at Gaylord Palms from November 13, 2026-January 3, 2027, and tickets can be reserved online.
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The entire, awe-inspiring display is made up of nearly 7,000 gigantic ice blocks, all perfectly preserved at a crisp 9 degrees Fahrenheit. But don’t worry, guests are provided parkas to help keep them warm, though
additional winter clothing is suggested.
There are nearly two dozen activities and events taking place throughout the sprawling holiday wonderland, with something to entertain all ages. But the real highlight is just walking through the 20,000-square-foot ice creation that brings The Polar Express to life.
The attraction features scenes from the heartwarming tale in hand-carved sculptures made of solid ice, including the Polar Express train arriving at Hero Boy’s house, the famous hot chocolate scene aboard the Polar Express, the massive train rushing down the side of an icy mountain and the grand arrival at the North Pole. Colored ice, clear ice, stage lighting and LED lights are all used to create the breathtaking display.
A favorite feature each year is the “ice!” slide room, featuring five two-story-tall slides made of solid ice. This year, the slides will send guests zipping across the film’s Glacier Gulch. Another popular area inside the attraction is Carver’s Showcase, a wintry workshop where master ice artisans work throughout the day to showcase the unique craft to guests.
In addition to the amazing ice sculptures, “ice!” features scenes that allow guests to become a part of the action, providing special photo spots to take shareable photos.
And the best part: there’s no time limit. Guests are allowed to stay, wander and play for as long as they like once inside. The nine-scene display takes around 20-40 minutes to walk through, depending on your pace and how much you stop for pictures, while additional activities offer hours of fun.
Even outside of ice! there is fun to be had. The 65-acre Gaylord Palms resort is transformed every year into a wintry escape. Christmas shows and activities are presented in the atrium, while another area of the resort transforms into Alpine Village, a bustling holiday hamlet with Bavarian-style storefronts, immersive activities and one of Florida’s largest Christmas shops. Snow Factory, adjacent to Alpine Village, features chilly thrills with snowball throwing, ice tubing, the Snow Bar, a Christmas Carousel and more.
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
Don’t miss this festive adventure. Reserve your tickets today on the official Gaylord Palms ice! page.
