Happy Almost-Thanksgiving!
Recently, I was invited to a media preview event for Gaylord Palms ICE! – an annual Orlando holiday must-do. For the media event, we were treated to a preview of the Nutcracker by the Orlando Ballet to celebrate the opening of the new Dr. Philips Center. Luminescence absolutely rocked with their high-energy music and acrobatics and will be performing nightly for the public. New this year are the Alpine Rush snow tubing slides – which are a pretty great time!
As usual, I use more pictures than words… So check out the galleries below, where I explain what you’re seeing in the captions. Click any picture to enlarge.
Enjoy!
-ADA
@AtDisneyAgain
Exterior and lobby decorations:
Outside of the convention center building is all decked out.
Outside of the convention center building is all decked out.
ICE! is right this way.
ICE! is themed to the Nutcracker this year.
Alpine Rush Snow Tubing is new this year.
Happy holidays!
One of the lobby trees.
GIANT holiday rocking horse in the lobby area.
Lobby decoration detail.
Lobby decoration.
Lobby decoration.
Nutcracker performance by the Orlando Ballet:
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
A beautiful Christmas tree towers above the performers.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Gaylord’s top management team were our hosts/emcees.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Atrium Christmas tree.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Gaylord’s top management team were our hosts/emcees.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Atrium Christmas tree.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Gaylord’s top management team were our hosts/emcees.
Orlando Ballet performing Nutcracker.
Luminescence’s performance:
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Luminescence’s drummer plays high in the atrium toward the end of the show.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
The tree changed lights to match the performance.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
I always get pics of the behind-the-scenes people for the A/V geeks who read my blog.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
I always get pics of the behind-the-scenes people for the A/V geeks who read my blog.
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
One of our hosts.
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
I always get pics of the behind-the-scenes people for the A/V geeks who read my blog.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
I always get pics of the behind-the-scenes people for the A/V geeks who read my blog.
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
Luminescence rocked out to Christmas favorites.
I always get pics of the behind-the-scenes people for the A/V geeks who read my blog.
Gymnasts from Luminescence swung high over the audience.
The main event – ICE!:
After the stunning performances, we were off to the Alpine Village downstairs.
Past this lovely giant horse again.
Past this lovely giant horse again.
The main entrance to ICE!
Alpine Village.
Alpine Village.
Warning! You WILL get cold!
Tubing to the left, ICE! to the right.
Great photo op.
Borrow your free parka!
Cameron is just chillin…
Good advice.
Look at the amount of ice freezing on the entrance doors!
First room.
First room.
First room.
First room.
First room.
New this year: Ice bar in the first room.
New this year: Ice bar in the first room.
New this year: Ice bar in the first room.
New this year: Ice bar in the first room.
New this year: Ice bar in the first room.
New this year: Ice bar in the first room.
New this year: Ice bar in the first room.
First room.
First room.
First room.
First room.
First room.
First room.
First room.
First room.
First room.
First room.
First room.
First room.
Entrance to second room.
Entrance to second room.
Second room.
Second room.
Second room.
Second room.
Second room.
Second room.
Second room.
Ice slides in the third room!
Ice slides in the third room!
Ice slides in the third room!
Third room.
Third room.
Third room.
Third room.
Third room.
Right after the slides, a transition to the fourth room.
Right after the slides, a transition to the fourth room.
Right after the slides, a transition to the fourth room.
Right after the slides, a transition to the fourth room.
Right after the slides, a transition to the fourth room.
Right after the slides, a transition to the fourth room.
Even the emergency exit is themed!
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fire is a concern even in cold places – where water and electricity coexist, it’s best to be safe.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory – with a live demo of an ice arist at work.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Fourth room – the Frostbite Factory.
Transition to the fifth room – the traditional nativity scene at the end of each ICE! event.
ICE! always concludes with a nativity scene.
ICE! always concludes with a nativity scene.
ICE! always concludes with a nativity scene.
ICE! always concludes with a nativity scene.
ICE! always concludes with a nativity scene.
ICE! always concludes with a nativity scene.
ICE! always concludes with a nativity scene.
ICE! always concludes with a nativity scene.
ICE! always concludes with a nativity scene.
Free Kleenex!
Ha!
YES, PLEASE.
Parka return.
Parkas are coded by colored stripes on their sleeves – this is their size code.
Food and gift shop:
Gingy sells gingerbread.
Snacks are available after ICE!
Snacks are available after ICE!
Snacks are available after ICE!
ICE! merchandise.
Snacks are available after ICE!
Snacks are available after ICE!
Snacks are available after ICE!
Snacks are available after ICE!
Assorted nuts for sale.
Snacks are available after ICE!
Snacks are available after ICE!
Gingy sells gingerbread.
ICE! merchandise.
Gingy is for sale in the shop after ICE!
Gingy sells gingerbread.
ICE! merchandise.
Santa provides directions.
Snacks are available after ICE!
Snacks are available after ICE!
Alpine Rush tubing:
This is something that we Floridians definitely need to know.
Very beautiful projections on the curtains cordoning off the Alpine Rush area.
Cameron loves a good photo op.
Cameron loves a good photo op.
Cameron gets his Alpine Rush.
Photo op.
Rules!
Cameron loves a good photo op.
WARNING!
Cameron gets his Alpine Rush.
Cameron loves a good photo op.
Huge Alpine Rush tubing area.
