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Cool Stuff, Disney news, Event Update, Gaylord Palms, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, Media, Orlando News, Thanksgiving |
6 November, 2008
Details were officially announced today for the wackiest event in Orlando this holiday season, the debut of Orlando Polar Bear Club! On Black Friday — the unofficial name for Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving — thrillseekers will be invited to visit Orlando's 9-degree ICE! attraction… in their bathing suits!
Why? Well, it's a fundraiser for Special Olympics Florida.
The press release further explains: "The short answer is simple… 'just because'," said [Gaylord Palms] resort General Manager Kemp Gallineau. "Because it's fun and memorable — something to laugh about, brag about and blog about. And not everybody can go to Pamplona to run with the bulls."
For those who have not heard of the ICE! attraction, it is a 9-degree walk-through winter wonderland hand carved from two million pounds of ice. It's one of those you've-got-to-see-it-to-believe-it attractions. This year, you can experience ICE! AND bring home wacky photos. How can you pass that up?
The Orlando Polar Bear Club debut, which should make for good television news coverage, will be held at 8:30am on Nov. 28 at the Gaylord Palms ICE! attraction. Tickets are available online.
For further updates about Orlando Christmas events, including ICE! at Gaylord Palms, visit www.christmasinorlando.com
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Behind-The-Scenes, Carving, Cool Stuff, Gaylord Palms, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, Media, Orlando News |
28 October, 2008
Breaking Orlando News:
COLD WEATHER IN ORLANDO IS BLAMED ON GAYLORD PALMS RESORT
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Oct. 28) — Central Florida residents woke up this morning to a burst of cold air that is being blamed on, of all things, an Osceola county resort. According to news wire reports, the cause of this morning's cool weather has been traced to Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, where a new holiday attraction is currently under construction.
The attraction, which is called ICE!, is currently being carved from 2 million pounds of ice by a group of 40 artisans from China. The temperature began falling when the elaborate refrigeration system used to cool the 18,000-square-foot attraction to 9 degrees began to malfunction.
"Essentially, they've created a 9-degree winter-like environment in the middle of sunny Florida," said an Osceola county official who asked not to be identified. "What they didn't count on was the accidental cooling of the entire region to 40-some degrees."
The attraction, which is nearly complete, will debut Nov. 17. The attraction will be open to the public through Jan. 4.
In its sixth season, ICE! will reflect the theme "Santa's Arctic Blast," featuring several scenes that star "Jolly Cold Saint Nicholas" himself. One such scene is a colossal Santa Claus photo opportunity, carved in an oversized scale. Visitors who sit on his knee will be dwarfed in the photo. Other scenese include Candy Land, a magical destination reminiscent of America’s favorite children’s board game. The ICE! castle and slides have been re-designed to celebrate Santa's Christmas Eve flight… reindeer and all.
According to Gaylord Palms spokesman Keith Salwoski, the situation is under control.
"Our attraction is still 9 degrees, and by afternoon, Orlando temperatures will be back near 70 degrees," he said. "So, in the mean time, we welcome local residents to, um, chill out!"
# # #
For further updates on Orlando Christmas, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, or Christmas at Orlando theme parks, visit ChristmasInOrlando.com
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Behind-The-Scenes, Best of Florida Christmas, Carving, Christmas, Cool Stuff, Design Chatter, Event Update, Gaylord Palms, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, Orlando News |
20 October, 2008
Although Orlando's ICE! attraction won't open for several weeks, Gaylord Palms is giving a "sneak peek" of this cool holiday spectacle, thanks to two cool web cams that are already feeding live images to fans.
Web Cam One: Winter Wonderland ICE Bridge
Winter Wonderland is currently under construction inside the ICE! attraction at Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando. This romantic scene will feature a romantic winterscape, including a large bridge made completely from ice. When complete, ICE! visitors will be able to walk across the bridge, and take advantage of several photo opportunities, before moving on to the Hall of Ornaments, a colorful new ICE! scene.
Artisans from China are currently at work inside the 9-degree attraction. When the attraction opens, this scene will be home to the ICE! Proposals program, a unique place to propose marriage in Orlando.
To see the progress, click on the web cam link at ChristmasinOrlando.com, found on the right-hand column of the page.
Web Cam Two: Santa's Magic Flight
Santa's Magic Flight is also under construction inside the ICE! attraction. This newly-engineered scene is created from nearly 1 million pounds of ice, and features ice slides for children and adults.
When it opens on Nov. 17, the web cam will catch visitors to the attraction as they slide down the scene's four slides.
To see the progress, click on the web cam link at ChristmasinOrlando.com, found on the right-hand column of the page.
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Behind-The-Scenes, Carving, Christmas, ChristmasInOrlando.com, Cool Stuff, Design Chatter, Event Update, Gaylord Palms, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, Orlando News |
2 November, 2007
Although Orlando's ICE! attraction will not open for several weeks, Gaylord Palms is given a "sneak peek" into the attraction — a first for this cool holiday spectacle.
Web Cam One: Penguin Pointe
Penguin Pointe is currently under construction inside the ICE! attraction at Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando. The scene is created from nearly 1 million pounds of ice, and features three ice slides for children and adults. One slide is the longest in the history of the attraction, measuring 5 feet taller and 30 feet longer than previous years!
Artisans from China are currently at work inside the 9-degree attraction. When it opens on Nov. 19, the web cam will catch visitors to the attraction as they slide down the scene's three slides.
To see the progress, click on the webcam link at ChristmasinOrlando.com
Web Cam Two: Frostproof Express
Frostproof Express is also under construction inside the ICE! attraction. The scene features an oversided train crafted from several colors of ice. When completed, ICE! visitors will be able to walk inside the train, and can take advantage of several photo opportunities, before moving on to Candy Land, a colorful new ICE! adventure.
To see the progress, click on the webcam link at ChristmasinOrlando.com
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Christmas, Cool Stuff, Gaylord Palms, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, Media, Orlando News |
2 November, 2007
The folks at Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee are sponsoring a hilarious contest for YouTube junkies called "The Boss Said Get Us on YouTube" Competition.
In short, they are offering a $99 "prize" to finance a fun YouTube video filmed inside the resort's 9-degree holiday ICE! attraction. [Our tip: Don't forget the mittens!]
Pull out the video camera, and check out the details here.
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Behind-The-Scenes, Best of Florida Christmas, Carving, Christmas, Cool Stuff, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, Media |
24 October, 2007
The Orlando Sentinel ran a great story in today's paper, featuring a "behind-the-scenes" look at the Chinese ice carvers and artisans who are responsible for the ICE! attraction at Gaylord Palms Resort.
The story can be found here.
A video of the construction can be found here.
A photo gallery, including photos of construction from 2006 and 2007, can be found here.
For more information, and for the latest updates on Christmas events in Orlando, visit ChristmasInOrlando.com.
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Best of Florida Christmas, Christmas, Cool Stuff, Gnome Hunt, Orlando News |
4 November, 2006
Fans who have watched teams desperately searching for Travelocity gnomes on past seasons of the television series "The Amazing Race" can finally give it a try!
Gaylord Palms Resort has teamed with Travelocity to offer the Hidden Holiday Gnome Hunt, beginning Nov. 18. The new holiday activity will take participants throughout the resort’s 4.5-acre glass-covered atrium to search for 20 cleverly hidden statues of the Travelocity Roaming Gnome. One participant will win a 7-day 6-night Alaskan cruise for two, compliments of Travelocity.
The activity brings a holiday tradition to Florida from across the world. In many Scandinavian countries, it is believed that a holiday gnome lives hidden under your house. Around Christmas, he emerges carrying a sack full of presents over his shoulder.
Meanwhile, in the past few days, there has been much ado over at Travelocity in regard to the gnome. Apparently he has come up missing in their television commercials. Check out the latest here.
For more details about Orlando Christmas events, including Theme Park Christmas events, Orlando Shopping, a calendar of events, and Christmas at Disney, visit ChristmasInOrlando.com.
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Cool Stuff, ICE! at Gaylord Palms |
3 November, 2006
GAYLORD PALMS RESORT ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY PARTNERSHIP
WITH ARNOLD PALMER HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN
Children Born at Hospital Will Receive Free ICE! Entry Nov. 18-24
BREAKING NEWS — Gaylord Palms Resort, the “headquarters hotel” for the Christmas season in Orlando, has announced a new holiday partnership with Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation to benefit Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
As part of the partnership, Gaylord will provide a donation to the foundation, as well as complimentary entry to ICE! for children previously born at the hospital. Specifically:
- Nov. 18-30: a 50-cent donation will be made for every ICE! ticket sold, with a minimum of $10,000.
- Nov. 18-24: any child previously born at Arnold Palmer Hospital will be admitted free into the ICE! attraction by showing an official Arnold Palmer Hospital birth certificate at the ICE! box office.
The partnership is part of the resort’s Best of Florida Christmas celebration, featuring live entertainment, unique attractions and holiday activities held to commemorate the Christmas season.
When the new Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies opened in Spring 2006, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children expanded from the current 98-bed facility to a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children.
The hospital will grow again in early 2007, with the opening of the 23,500-square-foot The Bert Martin’s Champions for Children Emergency Department & Trauma Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital. This construction project will cost $11 million and is almost entirely funded by philanthropic support. Gaylord’s donation will be specially earmarked toward this new trauma center.
“Christmas is all about children,” said Kemp Gallineau, Gaylord Palms Resort general manager. “So in choosing a charity partner, we chose one that would truly benefit the children of our community.”
To learn more about the Arnold Palmer Hospital birth certificate program, call (407) 586-4432.
For more details about Orlando Christmas events, including Theme Park Christmas events, Orlando Shopping, a calendar of events, and Christmas at Disney, visit ChristmasInOrlando.com.
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ChristmasInOrlando.com, Cool Stuff |
13 October, 2006
If you have a Mac, you can download the ChristmasInOrlando.com Dashboard widget and keep track of news from this blog and, soon, events.
Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger is required. If you’re using Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, show Dashboard, click the Plus sign to display the Widget Bar and click the widget’s icon in the Widget Bar to open it. If you’re using a browser other than Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, unarchive it and place it in /Library/Widgets/ in your home folder. show Dashboard, click the Plus sign to display the Widget Bar and click the widget’s icon in the Widget Bar to open it.
ChristmasInOrlando.com Dashboard Widget v1.0
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Cool Stuff |
20 November, 2005
Note: The following blog entry was originally posted on "FROZEN! The Gaylord Palms ICE! blog" in 2005:
Opening day of ICE! was very successful! Our very first guests to the attraction were the Mays Family of Palm Bay, Florida! The couple was staying at Gaylord Palms for the weekend, enjoying a holiday package with Jessica, Brandon (5 1/2) and Brian (2). The picture above is the group in their famous ice-blue parkas… the picture below was before they entered the queue.
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Details were officially announced today for the wackiest event in Orlando this holiday season, the debut of Orlando Polar Bear Club! On Black Friday — the unofficial name for Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving — thrillseekers will be invited to visit Orlando's 9-degree ICE! attraction… in their bathing suits!
