Over the weekend, a cold front slowly slid across Central Florida, bringing with it something us Floridians yearn for during the holidays: SWEATER WEATHER!

However, sporting my boots and scarves in 49-degree weather did not prepare me for losing complete feeling of my hands and face. Let me explain…

I was lucky enough to spend the night at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center (fancy!) this week as part of a media event and check out ICE! 

The holiday classic, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas was brought to life in two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures thanks to a team of artisans from Harbin, China! Kept at a chilly 9 degrees, this walk-through holiday attraction features four ice slides, a live carving zone, a breath-taking Nativity scene carved from crystal clear ice and tons more!

Cirque Dreams Unwrapped:

Before bundling up for ICE! make sure you carve out some time to check out the all-new Cirque Dreams Unwrapped on the Emerald Bay Stage in the atrium. Jugglers, aerial contortionists and mind-blowing acrobats will entertain the entire family during this 25-minute performance.

ICE! & On The Blocks: 

Armed with a blue parka that’ll make you look like this…

and feel like this…

…You’ll find yourself transported far from sunny Kissimmee and fully immersed in a winter wonderland! Straight out of the pages of the holiday classic, the attraction walks you through six rooms, depicting different parts of the story, like “the children, nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums danc’d in their heads!”

Or chill out at the coolest bar in Central Florida: the On The Blocks ICE! Bar! Adults 21+ can upgrade their ICE! experience to enjoy a sampling of Jackson Morgan Southern Cream and Goose Island Beer plus a choice of a Maker’s Mark or Absolut specialty drink, or Hidden Crush Cabernet or Chardonnay, served in a souvenir glass—yours to keep! Ambient lighting, music and fun photo opportunities set the mood for this unique VIP experience.

But the fun doesn’t stop there…

There’s still much to do after you’ve thawed out! From building gingerbread houses to your very own stuffed friend, you will not run out of opportunities to unleash your creative side (and eat all the candy meant for the gingerbread house).

Have you been naughty or nice? If you’re unsure on where you stand with Santa this year (and would rather get the new iPhone instead of a lump of coal), make sure to stop by for a chinwag and a picture. And for the competitive souls out there–challenge your friends down the Alpine Rush snow tubing experience or see who can search the resort for the hidden Elf on the Shelf scout elves!

ICE! at the Gaylord Palms will be going through January 3, 2016. To find out more about hours and prices, click here. 

xx