As the holidays draw near, Gaylord Hotels is unveiling its much-anticipated festive celebrations for the 2025–26 season. This year, all six resorts will host the signature ICE! attraction—featuring hand-carved ice sculptures, themed scenes from beloved holiday classics, two-story ice slides and immersive winter-wonderland experiences.
Running from November 2025 into January 2026, the ICE! programs at Gaylord resorts aim to play a pivotal role in the winter travel and hospitality sector — offering destination-style Christmas vacations that blend resort stays with themed entertainment.
ICE! 2025–26: Dates, Themes & Resorts
Here’s a quick overview of each location, their ICE! theme for 2025, and the operating dates:
- Gaylord Opryland Resort (Nashville, TN): “A Country Christmas” with ICE! featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas. Nov 7, 2025 – Jan 3, 2026.
- Gaylord Palms Resort (Kissimmee/Orlando, FL): ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red‑Nosed Reindeer™. Nov 14, 2025 – Jan 7, 2026.
- Gaylord National Resort (National Harbor/DC region): ICE! featuring The Polar Express™. Nov 14, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026.
- Gaylord Texan Resort (Grapevine/Dallas-area, TX): ICE! featuring Elf™. Nov 14, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026.
- Gaylord Rockies Resort (Aurora/Denver, CO): ICE! featuring How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. Nov 24, 2025 – Jan 2, 2026.
- JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa (San Antonio, TX): ICE! featuring Frosty the Snowman. Nov 22, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026.
These dates mark an extended season—allowing not only pre-Christmas visits but also post-holiday travel into early January, catering to families, couples and corporate groups looking for holiday-season experiences.
Why This Matters for the Travel & Hospitality Industry
From an industry vantage point, Gaylord Hotels’ annual fundraising of themed attractions represents a strategic pillar of winter-season destination travel. Here are key points:
- Extended bookings & occupancy: With openings in early November and closures into January, resorts capture shoulder-season and holiday peak demand, increasing occupancy beyond conventional Christmas only windows.
- Ancillary revenue streams: The ICE! attractions drive ticket sales, merchandise, F&B (food & beverage) spend and premium holiday packages, reinforcing resort revenue per guest.
- Experiential tourism trend: Families increasingly seek immersive holiday experiences rather than simply staying at hotels. Ice sculptures, slides, snow tubing and theatrical shows meet that demand.
- Brand differentiation: In a crowded resort-market, Gaylord’s winter attraction stands out — from niche indoor ski destinations to large convention-based resorts — giving them a distinctive seasonal value proposition.
- Cross-market pull: With resorts in six varied U.S. regions (South, Southeast, Southwest, Mountain, Mid-Atlantic), the brand appeals to domestic travellers looking for accessible holiday escapes without long-haul travel from India, UK or Europe.
Travel-Planner Tips for 2025–26 Visiters
If you’re writing or planning industry-facing content, here are practical tips and angles to highlight:
- Early-bird bookings: Many resorts launched “Cyber Sale” deals early (e.g., use code CYBER25 at Gaylord Palms) to boost pre-season bookings.
- Weekday vs weekend dynamics: Weekend visits tend to sell out faster; weekday slots often have better value and lower crowding — ideal for corporate incentive stays or MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences & events) planners.
- Packages & bundling: Many overnight stay packages bundle room + ICE! tickets + parking/parking savings. For example Gaylord Rockies offers “So Much Christmas Premium Package” through Jan 2, 2026.
- Gear & comfort: ICE! is maintained at around 9 °F (-13 °C) inside, and parkas are provided. Travel-industry content should caution international travellers or families from warmer climates to dress accordingly.
- Post-holiday extension appeal: Because these attractions run into early January, resorts can target travel during the “less crowded” January window — especially appealing to families extending New Year vacations or hotels marketing “holiday plus New Year” packages.
- MICE/Group strategy: Resorts offering meeting space can leverage the holiday theme to attract corporate holiday parties, year-end retreats, or incentive travel groups — adding the festive backdrop as a differentiator.
Final Thoughts
For the 2025–26 season, Gaylord Hotels confirms that the beloved ICE! experience marches on — stronger and more strategic than ever. With six resorts, six signature themes, and extended windows from November into January, the brand continues to dominate in the holiday-travel and experiential tourism space.
For travel industry professionals—from tour operators to corporate travel planners and hotel revenue managers—monitoring booking trends, package uptake, and guest spend at these resorts will offer valuable insights into how holiday-season attractions can drive revenue and differentiate hospitality brands.
Image courtesy- Gaylord Hotels
