Christmas in July

Filed in Behind-The-Scenes, Best of Florida Christmas, Christmas, ChristmasInOrlando.com, Gaylord Palms, Gnome Hunt, Orlando News | 23 July, 2007

Christmas is the most wonderful season of the year in Orlando.  So wonderful, that you'll find elements of it during the rest of the year, too!

At Gaylord Palms Resort, it's Christmas in July:

Summer Gnome Hunt

One of the favorite guest activities during Best of Florida Christmas at Gaylord Palms Resort is the Hidden Holiday Gnome Hunt, featuring The Roaming Gnome from Travelocity.  Guests scour the atriums to find the little guys cleverly hidden throughout the resort.  As part of the Florida Caladium Showcase, the hotel is featuring a Summer Hidden Gnome Hunt through Sept. 15.  The prize is a weekend stay at Gaylord Palms during Best of Florida Christmas.

Give Kids the World Christmas Party

The Gaylord Palms employee volunteer committee, GET Involved, often provides a team to assist at Give Kids The World village.  This amazing resort houses families with children who have critical illnesses, and have wished for a trip to Orlando.  It is one of the most magical place in Orlando, ranking up there with the theme park attractions. 

Because Gaylord Palms is so closely associated with Christmas — and the ICE! attraction — the group chose to volunteer at the "Winter Wonderland" party.  Essentially, the group helped throw a Christmas in July party for the families, complete with a visit by Santa, gifts, face painters, and a holiday parade! [Click on the images to see a larger view.]

Gaylord Palms Christmas Team Outing

We caught the Gaylord Palms "Christmas special events team" during an outing at Universal's Islands of Adventure.  Where would such a holiday-obsessed team hang out?  First, we searched at the "ice coaster" inside Dueling Dragons.  No such luck.  Finally, it dawned on us.  There they were, inside the Christmas Shoppe, of course!

(left to right) Wynn Merryman, Keith Salwoski, Suzanne Stephan, Amy Grimes, and Aaron Mendelson.

It's only July… and Christmas in Orlando is everywhere!

Beware of the Christmas Gnomes!

Filed in 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.