USA Holiday Travel Boom: Gaylord Hotels Launches Record-Breaking ice! Christmas Experience With Frozen Worlds, Iconic Movie Themes and Massive Family Adventures – All You Need to know

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Gaylord Hotels is transforming the 2026 holiday season into an extraordinary winter celebration as its famous ice!™ attraction returns with the largest programme in its history across eight major U.S. resorts. The frozen Christmas spectacle will introduce two exciting debut locations and three new themes inspired by some of the world’s most loved entertainment franchises, giving families a bigger reason than ever to plan a festive getaway.

The signature ice!™ experience will make its first appearance at Gaylord Pacific Resort in Chula Vista, California, and JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. At the same time, the attraction will return to popular Gaylord resorts across the United States with a refreshed collection of immersive holiday stories, breathtaking sculptures and unforgettable seasonal experiences.

The 2026 edition will bring guests into magical frozen worlds featuring new themes based on Harry Potter™, Home Alone™ and Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas™. Alongside these new adventures, beloved favourites including A Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf™, Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, The Polar Express™ and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ will create a nationwide celebration of Christmas imagination.

Families can begin planning their winter escape through early booking packages and ticket sales, allowing travellers to secure their place at one of America’s most spectacular Christmas attractions.

America’s Largest Frozen Christmas Attraction Expands With More Magic Than Ever Before

The ice!™ attraction continues to stand as one of the most impressive holiday experiences in the United States. Each year, the event transforms resort spaces into giant frozen theatres filled with detailed ice artwork, colourful lighting effects and larger-than-life Christmas scenes.

The attraction uses more than two million pounds of ice to create extraordinary displays that cover entire rooms from floor to ceiling. Every sculpture is carefully designed to bring popular holiday stories and characters into a stunning frozen environment.

The creation process behind ice!™ is equally remarkable. More than 300 skilled ice artisans from Harbin, China, take part in building the attraction using traditional carving methods passed through generations. The artists spend around 40 days shaping approximately 60,000 individual ice blocks into detailed sculptures.

Inspired by the internationally famous Harbin Ice Festival, the experience combines traditional craftsmanship with modern entertainment technology. The result is a spectacular holiday attraction where families can walk through frozen landscapes, explore themed environments and capture memorable photographs.

New Gaylord Pacific and Phoenix Resorts Bring First-Ever ice!™ Experiences

The 2026 holiday season marks a major milestone as ice!™ expands to new destinations, allowing more travellers to experience the frozen Christmas adventure.

At Gaylord Pacific Resort in Chula Vista, California, guests will experience ice!™ featuring “A Charlie Brown Christmas” from November 20, 2026, to January 3, 2027. The attraction will bring the heartwarming story of Charlie Brown and his friends into a spectacular frozen setting filled with nostalgic holiday scenes.

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix, Arizona, will host ice!™ featuring New Line Cinema’s Elf™ from November 18, 2026, to January 3, 2027. The theme will introduce visitors to a colourful frozen journey inspired by the popular Christmas comedy, creating a playful experience for families and fans.

These new locations highlight the growing popularity of holiday travel experiences across the United States, as families increasingly look for destination-based celebrations instead of traditional seasonal activities at home.

Harry Potter, Home Alone and Nightmare Before Christmas Create New Holiday Worlds

The biggest attraction of the 2026 ice!™ lineup is the arrival of three completely new themes that combine Christmas traditions with globally recognised entertainment franchises.

Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee, will introduce ice!™ featuring Home Alone™ from November 6, 2026, to January 2, 2027. The frozen attraction will bring the famous holiday adventure to life through detailed ice sculptures and immersive scenes inspired by the beloved family film.

Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colorado, will present ice!™ featuring Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas™ from November 20, 2026, to January 3, 2027. The unique combination of Halloween-inspired fantasy and Christmas charm will create a visually striking frozen experience unlike any previous edition.

Meanwhile, Gaylord Texan Resort on Lake Grapevine, Texas, will introduce ice!™ featuring Harry Potter™ from November 13, 2026, to January 3, 2027. Visitors will enter a magical frozen world inspired by the famous wizarding universe, offering fans a completely new way to celebrate the holiday season.

These additions are expected to attract visitors searching for unique Christmas travel experiences that combine entertainment, storytelling and family-friendly adventure.

Returning Resorts Continue America’s Favourite Christmas Traditions

Alongside the new attractions, several Gaylord resorts will bring back some of the most popular ice!™ themes for another holiday season.

Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland, will welcome visitors with ice!™ featuring Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! from November 14, 2026, to January 3, 2027. The experience will recreate the colourful world of the Grinch with incredible frozen details.

Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Florida, will return with ice!™ featuring The Polar Express™ from November 13, 2026, to January 3, 2027. The attraction will invite guests on a magical winter journey inspired by the famous holiday story.

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, Texas, will complete the returning lineup with ice!™ featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ from November 23, 2026, to January 3, 2027.

Together, these attractions create a nationwide Christmas celebration stretching from California and Texas to Florida, Maryland, Colorado, Tennessee and Arizona.

Frozen Adventures Offer Slides, Giant Sculptures and Family Photo Moments

Beyond the incredible ice sculptures, the attraction offers interactive entertainment designed for visitors of all ages.

Each themed experience features more than ten immersive scenes where guests can explore detailed frozen environments. Visitors can walk through giant ice tunnels, discover colourful displays and enjoy thrilling two-storey ice slides carved completely from ice.

The attraction operates at a carefully controlled temperature of around nine degrees Fahrenheit to protect the sculptures and maintain their incredible detail throughout the holiday season. To ensure visitors remain comfortable, guests receive special blue parkas before entering the frozen environment.

The combination of dramatic lighting, storytelling and handcrafted ice artwork creates countless photo opportunities. Families can capture memories surrounded by frozen castles, holiday characters and spectacular seasonal designs.

So Much Christmas Turns Resorts Into Complete Winter Wonderland Destinations

The ice!™ attraction is only one part of the wider So Much Christmas celebration taking place at Gaylord resorts.

During the holiday season, each property transforms into a full winter wonderland featuring millions of sparkling lights, giant Christmas trees and elaborate festive decorations. The resorts create a complete holiday escape where guests can enjoy multiple activities beyond the frozen attraction.

Visitors can experience themed character dining, exciting ice tubing adventures, interactive scavenger hunts and live entertainment programmes. Christmas villages, seasonal markets and special photo experiences with Santa add even more festive excitement.

The combination of accommodation, entertainment and holiday attractions allows families to enjoy a complete Christmas getaway without travelling between multiple locations.

Holiday Travel Demand Drives Bigger Christmas Experiences Across America

The expansion of ice!™ reflects the growing demand for destination holiday celebrations in the United States. Travellers are increasingly searching for memorable seasonal experiences where entertainment, accommodation and activities come together in one location.

By combining world-class ice carving, famous entertainment themes and luxury resort experiences, Gaylord Hotels continues to position its Christmas programme as one of America’s leading festive attractions.

The 2026 season promises to deliver a larger, more immersive and more diverse holiday experience than ever before. With new locations, iconic themes and returning favourites, ice!™ is set to become a major winter travel highlight for families looking to celebrate Christmas in an unforgettable way.