Filed in
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
Filed in
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
Filed in
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.
Filed in
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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Media |
21 November, 2005
Note: The following blog entry was originally posted on "FROZEN! The Gaylord Palms ICE! blog" in 2005:
When the "Big Freeze" hits Central Florida, it's big news. Over the past few days, we've had many media visitors at ICE!:
On Friday, weatherman Dave Marsh from WESH-TV (NBC Orlando) hosted weather reports on Friday from inside the 9-degree ICE! attraction.
We snapped a picture (above) of Amadeus, host of the Weekend Showplace on WJWB-TV (WB Jacksonville). Amadeus and his crew taped segments that will air thoughout the weekend on the station.
On Sunday, we hosted our first live radio remote of the season (above), WILD 95.5 from Palm Beach. On Monday, Meteorologist Randy Rauch from WTSP-TV (CBS Tampa Bay) shared the "chilling" news with viewers (below). His news report is available online… click here to see it.
Filed in
Media |
16 November, 2005
Note: The following blog entry was originally posted on "FROZEN! The Gaylord Palms ICE! blog" in 2005:
Candice Coleman, of WKMG-TV in Orlando, was the first television reporter to broadcast from ICE!, a distinction she has held for the past three years. She, of course, was intrigued by Chris Dunlop (above) of ISA, who faithfully shows up for work every day in shorts despite the 9 degree temperature.
While visiting, the station caught an unusual sight for Florida… SNOW! That's right. To create snow, the artisans grind up pieces of ice and blow it into the winter forest scene. This gives the feeling of freshly fallen snow. On this day, however, it looked like more of a blizzard (below)!
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!
