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Gaylord Hotels Expands ICE! to Eight Resorts
The holiday season is getting a major upgrade this year as Gaylord Hotels and select JW Marriott Resorts roll out their largest ICE! experience to date.
For the 2026-2027 season, the iconic 9-degree frozen wonderland is expanding to eight destination resorts across the country, adding two new locations and introducing three hugely anticipated, brand-new themes.
Related-Elf taking over ICE! at Gaylord Palms Resort
What’s New for the 2026 Season?
This season marks the debut of ICE! at two fresh resort destinations: the brand-new Gaylord Pacific Resort in Chula Vista, California, and the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort in Arizona.
Additionally, fans will get to experience three massive, pop-culture-favorite themes completely carved out of ice for the very first time:
- Harry Potter™ (Gaylord Texan Resort)
- Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (Gaylord Rockies Resort)
- Home Alone™ (Gaylord Opryland Resort)
Related-ICE is back at Gaylord Palms near Disney World
Full 2026-2027 Resort Lineup & Dates
Here is the complete destination rundown and operational schedule for the upcoming holiday season:
New Debut Locations
- Gaylord Pacific Resort (Chula Vista, CA): A Charlie Brown Christmas– Nov. 20, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
- JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort (Phoenix, AZ): New Line Cinema’s Elf™– Nov. 18, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
Brand-New Themes
- Gaylord Rockies Resort (Aurora, CO): Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas™– Nov. 20, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
- Gaylord Texan Resort (Grapevine, TX): Harry Potter™– Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
- Gaylord Opryland Resort (Nashville, TN): Home Alone™–Nov. 6, 2026 – Jan. 2, 2027
Returning Favorite Themes & Locations
- Gaylord Palms Resort (Kissimmee, FL): The Polar Express™– Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
- Gaylord National Resort (National Harbor, MD): Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!– Nov. 14, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
- JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort (San Antonio, TX): Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™– Nov. 23, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
The Art Behind the Frozen Magic
If you’ve never experienced ICE! in person, it’s far more than a simple walkthrough attraction.
The Fast Facts:
2+ Million Pounds of hand-carved ice per location
300+ Master Artisans traveling from Harbin, China (home of the world-renowned Harbin Ice Festival) 40 Days of continuous sculpting using techniques passed down over generations
9° Fahrenheit kept inside the exhibit to maintain intricate details (don’t worry—the resort provides its signature cozy blue parkas!)
Each theme spans over 10 walk-through scenes filled with character sculptures, towering archways, and the attraction’s famous two-story tall ice slides that kids (and adults) can zip down.
Beyond ICE!: “So Much Christmas”
While ICE! is the marquee attraction, each host property transforms into a full-scale winter wonderland with its broader “So Much Christmas” programming.
Guests staying at or visiting the resorts can look forward to:
- Millions of synchronized atrium lights and soaring Christmas trees
- Fast-paced ice tubing lanes and snowball play zones
- Interactive holiday escape rooms and character dining experiences
- Live stage performances, festive holiday markets, and photo ops with Santa
Booking & Ticket Info
Early bird packages and individual tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here! Enjoy!
Let our friends at Get Away Today help you book your next Disney or Universal Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
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