The Cherished Holiday Tradition ICE! Opens at Resorts Nationwide to Kick-Off the Holiday Season

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Nov 11, 2024, 09:00 ET

Overnight and local day guests at all Gaylord Hotels and the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country can experience the frozen attraction along with an extensive lineup of Christmas activities

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The beloved Christmas attraction, ICE!, started opening at resorts across the country for the 2024 holiday season. The larger-than-life frozen showplace is featured at all five Gaylord Hotels and, for the first time, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Kept at a frosty 9-degrees Fahrenheit, visitors will explore more than 2 million pounds of hand-carved scenes from adored Christmas classics including Frosty the Snowman™ (Gaylord Opryland), "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (Gaylord National), New Line Cinema's Elf™ (Gaylord Palms), Warner Bros.' The Polar Express™ (Gaylord Rockies), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ (Gaylord Texan), and Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country). Tickets to all ICE! locations are available for purchase at ICE.marriott.com.   

ICE! Opens at Resorts Nationwide to Kick-Off the Holiday Season

The six exclusive ICE! themes are brought to life in a vibrant, walk-through winter wonderland including more than 10 immersive scenes, thrilling two-story ice slides, awe-inspiring passageways, and photo-worthy moments the entire family can enjoy. The intricate, icy detail shown throughout the 20,000-square-foot spectacle is masterfully carved by a team of expert artisans from Harbin, China, home of the world-famous Harbin Ice Festival. The carving process takes place over approximately 40 days as the artisans follow a meticulous 300-page design book.

This year, guests will be able to experience six beloved classics at these ICE! destinations nationwide:  

ICE! featuring Frosty the Snowman at Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 8, 2024 – Jan. 4, 2025: Experience the magic of the snowman who came to life in this frozen, holiday wonderland.
ICE! featuring "A Charlie Brown Christmas" at Gaylord National on the Potomac in National Harbor, Md., Nov. 15, 2024 – Dec. 28, 2024: Guests will follow along with the lovable Charlie Brown as he rediscovers the meaning of Christmas.
ICE! featuring New Line Cinema's Elf™ at Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Fla., Nov. 15, 2024 – Jan. 4, 2025: For the first time, experience New Line Cinema's hilarious story which tells the tale of a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts on Christmas Eve and is transported back to the North Pole and raised as an elf. Years later Buddy learns he is not really an elf and goes on a journey to New York City to find his true identity.
ICE! featuring Warner Bros.' The Polar Express™ at Gaylord Rockies in Aurora, Colo., Nov. 22, 2024 – Jan. 1, 2025: Based on the beloved Warner Bros. film, celebrating its 20^th anniversary of believing this year, families are invited to take an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, embarking on a journey of self-discovery that shows the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ at Gaylord Texan on Lake Grapevine, Texas, Nov. 15, 2024 – Jan. 5, 2025: Visitors will enjoy their favorite scenes from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the story of a young reindeer who used his luminous red nose to save Christmas.
ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 23, 2024 – Jan. 5, 2025: Showcasing the 1957 Dr. Seuss classic, families will experience the memorable evolution of the Grinch as he fails to destroy the Whos' holiday spirit.

ICE! anchors each resort's over-the-top lineup of holiday activities and showcases. Classic holiday traditions featured at each ICE! resort include photos with Santa and gingerbread decorating. While experiencing each hotel's stunning holiday décor and sampling holiday-themed food and beverage, guests can experience a unique lineup of festive experiences ranging from Broadway-style Cirque shows to indoor snowball games.

Standout Christmas offerings featured at select ICE! resorts include:

Original Broadway-style Cirque shows that last up to 50 minutes and feature original music, dazzling acrobatics, feats of flexibility, and high-flying stunts to tell heart-warming Christmas stories. Cirque: Frost, featured at Gaylord Rockies, tells the story of young Jack Frost discovering his destiny as the legendary winter spirit. Cirque: The Spirit of Christmas, featured at Gaylord Palms and Gaylord Texan, shows a child dismayed and distressed by the hustle and bustle of the holidays as she tries to recapture her lost love of the season.
Gaylord Opryland's "A Country Christmas Dinner Show" will begin November 23 and run through Christmas Day. It will feature two different shows including Terri Clark's "It's Christmas…Cheers!" (Nov. 23-24, and 27-30; & Dec. 1, 4-6, and 17-22) and The Frontmen's "Holidays & Hits" (Nov. 25-26 & Dec. 2-3, 15-16, and 23-25). The unforgettable experience highlights classic and original holiday music plus favorite country hits, paired with a festive meal crafted by the resort's award-winning chefs.
The skies above Gaylord Palms' and Gaylord National's atrium come alive in the "Here We Glow A-Caroling Light Show" through thousands of glowing lights accompanied by a soundtrack of memorable Christmas carols.
A snowy play space called Snow Factory, where visitors can take a breathtaking plummet through a thrilling ice tube adventure at Snow Flow Mountain and boost the power of the snow machines by crafting and hurling snowballs at Snowball Build & Blast. Experience the frosty indoor activities at Gaylord Opryland, Gaylord National, Gaylord Palms, Gaylord Texan, and JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country.
Guests can enjoy a yuletide glide on the Ice Skating rink available at the Gaylord Texan and Gaylord Opryland.

Guests who stay overnight will be able to access resort-only benefits including the Extra Cool Hour and Chill Pass, which allow overnight visitors early admission into ICE! as well as front-of-the-line access to the attraction. Benefits may vary among resorts.

To explore the wintertime festivities and book exclusive packages at each destination visit ICE.marriott.com.  

About ICE!   
The annual ICE! events bring to life beloved Christmas stories hand-carved by master artisans from Harbin, China at resorts around the United States. Created and designed by Gaylord Hotels, ICE! debuted at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn. in 2001. ICE! has been visited by tens of millions of visitors who travel to each resort to see more than 2 million pounds carved into beloved scenes and characters, two-story ice slides, photo-worthy tunnels and archways, and more. ICE! takes place at each Gaylord Hotels resort across the United States, including Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Md., Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn., Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Fla., Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colo. and Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas, in 2024, ICE! makes its debut at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country in San Antonio, Texas. More information can be found at ICE.marriott.com.   

About Gaylord Hotels   
Gaylord Hotels, part of the Marriott portfolio of brands, welcomes guests to more, with extraordinary environments, diverse dining options, full-service spas, pools, top-notch entertainment, shopping and more. Locations include Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee; Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida; Gaylord Texan on Lake Grapevine, Texas; Gaylord National on the Potomac in National Harbor, Maryland; Gaylord Rockies in Aurora, CO; and making its debut in 2025 Gaylord Pacific in Chula Vista, California.   

About JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa   
Welcome to a San Antonio resort truly worthy of the Lone Star State. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa has firmly established itself as the city's premier luxury destination and the most renowned resort in the magnificent Texas Hill Country. Rated 4-Diamonds by AAA and just 12 miles north of San Antonio International Airport, the resort features two 18-hole championship golf courses at TPC San Antonio, Lantana Spa, the 9-acre River Bluff Water Experience, seven distinctive restaurants, 265,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event space, and more than 1,000 custom-designed guest rooms. Whether you're seeking a peaceful respite, productive meeting or exciting and fun-filled family vacation, JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is designed not just to exceed expectations but redefine them. For information, call 1-210-276-2500 or visit the resort online, and on Instagram and Facebook.   

About Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences (WBDGE) is a worldwide leader in the creation, development, licensing and operating of location-based entertainment based on the biggest franchises, stories, and characters from Warner Bros.' world-renowned film, television, animation, and games studios, HBO, Discovery, Cartoon Network and more. WBDGE is home to the groundbreaking locations of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal theme parks around the world, award-winning Warner Bros. Studio Tour locations in London, Hollywood, and Tokyo, the iconic Harry Potter New York flagship store, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, The WB Abu Dhabi, The FRIENDS Experience, The Game of Thrones Studio Tour and countless other experiences inspired by Harry Potter, DC, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Game of Thrones, FRIENDS and more. WBDGE is part of Warner Bros. Discovery's Revenue & Strategy division.

About Dr. Seuss Enterprises    
Founded in 1993, Dr. Seuss Enterprises is a leading global children's entertainment and licensing company focused on promoting literacy, education, self-confidence, and the wonderful possibilities of a child's imagination through the beloved works of Dr. Seuss. All Dr. Seuss Enterprises' profits benefit charitable organizations that focus on causes such as education, health, animal conservation, and the arts. For more information visit DrSeussEnterprises.com or follow us on Instagram.   

About Universal Live Entertainment 
Universal Live Entertainment partners with best-in-class entertainment companies to bring today's most popular stories, characters, and adventures to life in a city near you. From larger-than-life touring shows to immersive, walk-through exhibitions and family entertainment centers, Universal's world-class entertainment brands are delivered across the globe for families, friends, and people of all ages to enjoy. Productions include Jurassic World Live Tour, Jurassic World: The Exhibition, A Minion's Perspective, The Office Experience, American Ninja Warrior Adventure Parks, Film with Live Orchestra concerts and more.  

Universal Live Entertainment is a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, a unit of Comcast NBCUniversal. With incredible theme park destinations across the globe, Universal Destinations & Experiences offers guests of all ages the most exciting and popular entertainment experiences. Universal theme parks are known for immersive experiences that feature some of the world's most thrilling and technologically advanced film-and-television-based attractions. 

About Peanuts  
 The characters of Peanuts and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide, which is 41% owned by WildBrain Ltd., 39% owned by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and 20% owned by the family of Charles M. Schulz, who first introduced the world to Peanuts in 1950, when the comic strip debuted in seven newspapers. Since then, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang have made an indelible mark on popular culture. In addition to enjoying beloved Peanuts shows and specials on Apple TV+, fans of all ages celebrate the Peanuts brand worldwide through thousands of consumer products, as well as amusement park attractions, cultural events, social media, and comic strips available in all formats, from traditional to digital. In 2018, Peanuts partnered with NASA on a multi-year Space Act Agreement designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and STEM among the next generation of students.   

Warner Bros.' The Polar Express™: THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Frosty the Snowman: TM & © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. & Classic Media, LLC. Based on the musical composition FROSTY THE SNOWMAN © Warner/Chappell.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.