Gaylord Palms: Rudolph and friends set for new ice carvings

[Disney4me]

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” will be the theme of the upcoming carved-ice display and holiday festivities at Gaylord Palms Resort. Expect very shiny noses, secret slides and a larger-than-life Bumble for the 2025 edition.

It’s the first appearance by Rudolph at the Kissimmee resort’s annual event known as “ICE!” although the theme has been used at others within its hotel chain.  But it will have a new look and an emphasis on photo-ready moments.

“We completely redesigned the entire attraction,” said Niko Nickolau, entertainment director of Gaylord Hotels. “This year is we really, kind of dove into this new design with interactive photo spots that are carved by the ice sculptors, really allowing the guests to become part of the scene.”

That will include a pop-up space that will let visitors appear between Rudolph and Yukon Cornelius, the Arctic prospector from the 1964 television special. They’ll also be able to pose within the hand of Bumble, the abominable snow monster, and get into a icy bin from the Island of Misfit Toys. Other characters amid the ice: Hermey the Elf, Clairce and Santa Claus.

“‘Rudolph’ is iconic. I mean, you look at the top 10 Christmas movies, you can’t get through No. 3, without saying, ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,'” Nickolau said.

The popular slide room of “ICE!” returns, along with a secret slide, an element that was introduced last year when the theme was “Elf.”

The Island of Misfit Toys is incorporated into the 'ICE!' event. (Gaylord Hotels)

“We want it to be very tactical. We want it to be very experiential. So when you go through with your kids, those 30 minutes are really great, high-quality, memory-making family time,” Nickolau said.

The core of “Ice!” continues to have its traditional elements: 2 million pounds of ice, hand-carved by 40 artisans from Harbin, China, for 40 days. Visitors walk through the 20,000 square feet of display space in parkas to ward off the chilly air, said to be set at 9 degrees. LED lighting and coloring help create the effects. Although the start of the event is four months away, ice blocks are already being prepared for the event at facilities in Dallas and Atlanta.

Gaylord Palms visitors will be able to get close to Bumble, have a photographic moment. (Gaylord Hotels)

Gaylord Palms’ holiday programming also includes the Naughty or Nice Escape Room, Snow Factory (inner tubes on ice plus snowball building), Reindeer Games Scavenger Hunt, story time with Mrs. Claus, Elf Training Academy, atrium light show titled “Here We Glow A-Caroling,” “The Greatest Story” musical, a holiday gift shop and the new Jack Frost Chocolate Factory, where visitors make a pair of chocolate snowflake treats.

Also news this year is a stage show called “Pomp, Snow & Cirqueumstance,” which is produced in the Gaylord Palms atrium.  It includes acrobats, magicians, aerial acts and more characters.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Nickolau said. “It has music, magic and cirque.”

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“ICE!” runs from Nov. 14 through Jan. 7. For more information or tickets, go to christmasatgaylordpalms.com.

Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.

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