Harry Potter, Home Alone and Nightmare Before Christmas debut as new ICE! themes

Three blockbuster worlds are getting a holiday transformation as Gaylord Hotels introduces all-new ICE! experiences inspired by “Harry Potter,” “Home Alone” and Disney’s “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” for the 2026 holiday season.

The frozen attraction is also expanding coast-to-coast for the first time. Gaylord Pacific near San Diego will make its ICE! debut with “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” joining returning experiences at resorts across the country.

What guests can expect from the three new ICE! themes

At Gaylord Texan near Dallas, the new “Harry Potter” experience will recreate 10 scenes from the series, including the Hogwarts Express and Hogsmeade. Harry, Ron and Hermione will appear among the sculptures, while a Hogwarts-inspired castle surrounds the attraction’s two-story ice slides.

The debut is perfect timing as the films begin to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Other details will include floating candles and frozen Chocolate Frogs.

“We’re especially excited about Harry Potter, which has generated so much buzz that fans have been digging through public permit records trying to confirm the theme before the announcement,” a Gaylord Resorts spokesperson told Attractions Magazine.

Gaylord Opryland in Nashville will transform “Home Alone” into 10 frozen scenes featuring Kevin McCallister and the Wet Bandits. The attraction’s slides will be incorporated into Kevin’s plan to defend his home, while interactive scenes, photo opportunities and references to memorable lines from the film will appear throughout the experience.

Notice the details in the renderings below, including the knocked-over figure in the driveway.

At Gaylord Rockies near Denver, eight scenes from Disney’s “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” will bring Jack Skellington, Sally and Santa Claus into the 9-degree attraction. Guests will enter a frozen version of Halloween Town before encountering themed music, interactive video elements, ice tunnels and a five-lane slide area with an additional child-sized slide.

The expansion also brings ICE! to the West Coast for the first time with “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at Gaylord Pacific near San Diego. “We’re also celebrating a major milestone as ICE! goes coast-to-coast with its debut at Gaylord Pacific in San Diego this holiday season,” the spokesperson said.

Excitement with a dash of disappointment

The lineup has generated plenty of excitement, but not every fan is celebrating. While three destinations receive new themes, some Orlando locals and repeat visitors are disappointed that “The Polar Express” is returning to Gaylord Palms instead.

We’ve seen some Orlando-area fans commenting on Attractions Magazine’s Facebook page expressing disappointment that Gaylord Palms will revive “The Polar Express,” last presented there in 2019, instead of receiving one of the three new themes.

Here’s a look at last year’s ICE! theme at Gaylord Palms.

Still, this Christmas, some of the movies fans love most are getting their coolest transformation yet.