It’s going to be a ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ at Gaylord Palms Resort

The popular holiday event will run from Nov. 17, 2023, through Jan. 3, 2024, as more than two million pounds of colored and clear ice sculptures will tell the story of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” including g classic Peanuts characters like Lucy, Sally, Linus, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty, and of course, Charlie Brown’s little Christmas tree.

“We’re so pleased to bring this Central Florida holiday tradition back for our guests in 2023,” said Gaylord Palms Resort General Manager Johann Krieger. “Since debuting here in 2003, ‘Ice!’ Has become a one-of-a-kind attraction for our guests, and one of our most popular events of the year.”

The annual holiday attraction is created by a team of world-renowned carvers who travel more than 7,000 miles from Harbin, China (home to the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival in the world) to Florida.

It will take the skilled artisans about five weeks to carve 6,700 blocks of ice (each weighing 300 pounds) into the whimsical scenes, using chainsaws, chisels, tongs, handsaws, hand tools, and grinders – and although the environment is kept at a frosty 9 degrees Fahrenheit, guests are provided giant blue parkas at the attraction’s entrance.

In addition to seeing favorite Peanuts characters, guests can ride down two-story-tall ice slides and visit the Carver’s Showcase to see live sculpting demonstrations.

Frosty Facts:

• The very first “Ice!” experience was in 2001 at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn.; “Ice!” at Gaylord Palms Resort debuted in 2003
• Artisans sculpt details as small as a coin and scenes that reach 30 feet in height
• More than 2 million pounds 1of ice will be carved by artisans at Gaylord Palms, the weight of 250 African elephants
• If you stacked the 6,700 ice blocks used at Gaylord Palms this year, they would reach higher than 17 Empire State Buildings
• Colored ice is created by a chemist who mixes special food colorings with a proprietary formula to ensure the ice maintains its vivid color throughout the holiday season

Gaylord Palms Resort Holiday Events

Holiday events and activities will be offered across the resort, including Christmas shows and activities in the atrium and a Bavarian Alpine Village in the convention center, including one of Florida’s largest Christmas shops.

• “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas” – Featuring high-flying stunts, acrobatic feats, and an original score
• “The Greatest Story” – A musical retelling of the birth of Jesus Christ through the eyes of six storytellers
• “#LIT Light Show” – The skies above Gaylord Palms’ atrium and the 60-foot-tall atrium Christmas tree come to life
• Strolling Dickens Carolers – Performances of Christmas classics at various times and locations throughout the celebration
• Interactive Attractions – The Snow Factory play space and ice tubing on Snow Flow Mountain, and Snowball Build & Blast (admission allows unlimited ice tubing rides on the date on the ticket)
• Naughty or Nice Escape Room – If guests can sneak into Santa’s office and solve a series of puzzles, Jack Frost will remove their names from the Naughty List.
• Snoopy Scavenger Hunt – Families are challenged to search in the 4.5-acre garden atrium to complete a quest to receive a seasonal souvenir.
• Gingerbread Decorating Corner – Guests can adorn gingerbread treats and meet Nutmeg the Gingerbread Man.
• Elf Training Academy – Join one of Santa’s top toymakers to create a keepsake gift

Plus, guests can meet Santa Claus inside Alpine Village from Nov. 17 through Dec. 24, 2023 (to confirm they’ve secured a spot on his Nice List), and Mrs. Claus will lead a sing-along and storytelling of the Christmas tale, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” She’ll also treat guests to Santa’s favorite snack of milk and cookies.

Holiday Dining for Gaylord Palms Resort Guests

Overnight guests at Gaylord Palms have exclusive opportunities to enjoy holiday dining experiences, including:

• Breakfast with Charlie Brown and Friends – A character dining experience with the Peanuts gang, including Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy
• Thanksgiving Dinner (Nov. 23, 2023) – A buffet dinner featuring traditional Thanksgiving favorites, along with dishes inspired by cuisine from Spain, France, and Italy.
• Christmas Dinner (Dec. 25, 2023) – A holiday feast featuring chef stations, holiday traditions, and modern Mediterranean cuisine
• New Year’s Eve Buffet (Dec. 31, 2023) – A buffet inside the glass-enclosed atrium featuring fresh and seasonal food

Gaylord Palms Resort Holiday Packages

Gaylord Palms Resort will sparkle with over 3 million holiday lights and more than 100 decorated Christmas trees, including the centerpiece, a 60-foot-tall tree in the atrium, and 12 elaborately themed trees along the atrium’s Christmas Tree Trail.

“Christmas at Gaylord Palms” packages include special room rates and admission to select events. Guests who book rooms with an upgraded atrium view will have balconies that overlook all the Christmas décor (select rooms even provide prime balcony viewing for atrium shows, including “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas,” “#LIT” light show, and “The Greatest Story”).

Overnight resort guests also receive complimentary “Chill Pass” privileges to the “Ice” attraction, offering front-of-line access and shorter wait times. Resort guests also receive a complimentary invitation to “Extra Cool Hour,” which provides early entry into “Ice!,” the Snow Factory, and select Alpine Village shows and activities one hour before they open to day guests (attraction tickets are required and sold separately, in advance).

Admission is limited to many holiday experiences and showtimes, and advance online reservations are required for all ticketed events. For tickets, more information, or to book an overnight stay, visit ChristmasatGaylordPalms.com.