Each November, the Gaylord Hotels properties turn their attention to a singular winter ritual that draws families back year after year. The signature “ice!” experience transforms ordinary ballrooms into vast, chilled galleries where expert carvers shape two million pounds of ice into immersive scenes drawn from favorite holiday films. This season brings fresh chapters to that tradition, with new themes and two additional venues opening their doors to visitors seeking a different kind of holiday memory.
The Scale of the Craft
More than three hundred artisans travel from China each year to create the installations, working with hand tools and precise molds to produce floor-to-ceiling sculptures that tell complete stories. The result is a multi-room walkthrough cooled to nine degrees Fahrenheit, complete with two-story ice slides and carefully lit photo moments that capture characters in motion. The sheer volume of ice required at each site underscores the commitment to scale that has defined the event since its early years.
Guests often remark on the quiet intensity of the space once they step inside. Light refracts through the carved surfaces, and the temperature itself becomes part of the experience, prompting visitors to pull on the provided blue jackets before they begin their slow circuit through the rooms.
New Stories in Frozen Form
This year’s lineup introduces three film-inspired themes never before rendered in ice at these properties. “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Harry Potter,” and “Home Alone” join the roster, each carved with the same attention to narrative detail that has long characterized the attraction. The “Home Alone” installation, for instance, recreates key moments from the beloved comedy, while the “Harry Potter” scenes invite guests to walk through recognizable settings from the wizarding world.
Two new venues expand access to these experiences. Gaylord Pacific Resort in Chula Vista, California, and JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix, Arizona, will host their first “ice!” events, bringing the tradition to the West Coast and the Southwest for the first time. Regional vice president Johann Krieger noted the excitement around reaching new audiences while preserving the event’s core appeal for longtime visitors.
Activities That Extend the Visit
Beyond the ice galleries, each property offers complementary seasonal pursuits that vary by location. Ice skating, carriage rides, scavenger hunts, and character breakfasts provide opportunities to linger and create additional memories without leaving the resort grounds. Many families choose to book overnight stays so they can return to the ice multiple times or combine the visit with other on-site programming.
Marriott Bonvoy members receive added conveniences, including discounted ticket bundles and the option to apply points toward rooms. Early purchase of tickets can reduce costs by up to thirty percent, a practical step for those planning around peak holiday weekends when demand rises.
Key details for planning: New locations open in Chula Vista and Phoenix; “Harry Potter” and “Home Alone” themes appear at select properties; two million pounds of ice are carved at every site.
The combination of craftsmanship, storytelling, and seasonal activities continues to draw repeat visitors who value the chance to step into a fully realized winter environment. For families already marking calendars for the coming months, the expanded footprint offers fresh reasons to return or to plan a first visit to one of the participating resorts.
AI Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by a human editor.