Christmas at Gaylord Palms: Snow and Sun All in One
When people think of Orlando, they don’t necessarily think of snow tubing! But at Christmas at Gaylord Palms, that’s exactly what you can find. And after you enjoy all of the Christmas wonder inside this gorgeous hotel, you can go outside in the sun! And in the sun, you can enjoy Crystal River Rapids, water slides, and even learn to surf. Gaylord Palms in Orlando has so many activities all year round. But at Christmas, there’s all the merriment and wonder you could ask for, all in one place.
What is there to do at Christmas at Gaylord Palms?
Whether you are visiting from out of town or local, you can enjoy all that Christmas at Gaylord Palms has to offer. It’s really incredible how many activities there are to enjoy! In fact, there are actually dozens of Christmas events to love. No wonder they call it So. Much. Christmas. This is such a perfect name! Check out this list of activities at this year’s event.
Christmas at Gaylord Palms Activities List:
- Mission: Save Christmas featuring Elf walk through experience
- Cirque: Spirit of Christmas show
- Snowflow Mountain
- Gingerbread Decorating Corner
- Elf Training Academy experience
- Snowball Build and Blast
- Photos with Santa
- Build-A-Bear experience
- Acres and acres of festive decorations
- Adventure Kids: Wonders of Winter
- Christmas Tree Trail
- Wildlife Rescue Augmented Reality
- Snow Factory
- Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions
- Naughty or Nice Escape Room
- Sugary Sweet Storytime
- The Greatest Story Stage Show
- Secret Santa Scavenger Hunt
- Snow Bar
- Shine Light Show
- Journey of Los Tres Reyes Magos
- Seasonal Spa Treatments
- Market Square Retail shops
- Snowy’s Snack Shack
- Holiday dining
So, what do you think? That’s quite a list! And don’t forget, when you’ve experienced all of this Christmas, you can go outside and enjoy the many pools and water slides. And if you have an atrium view room at Gaylord Palms, you can sit on your balcony in your pajamas and enjoy many of the shows right from your room.
What are the Can’t Miss Experiences at Gaylord Palms Christmas?
With so many different Christmas activities to choose from, you might not have time to experience every single one. So what are my recommendations for the very best?
Mission: Save Christmas featuring Elf
Christmas is in trouble and Santa needs your help! For the first time this Christmas, journey into Buddy the Elf’s world to help save the holiday in our all-new, multi-sensory experience. Team-up with Mr. Narwhal and friends in the candy cane forest, stay ahead of the toy quota in the North Pole, prepare for Santa’s arrival at the iconic department store, and take part in an epic virtual snowball fight in Central Park. These are just a few of the fun, interactive challenges you’ll need to complete to muster enough Christmas cheer to power the Kringle 3000 and Santa’s sleigh!
You can see a full walk through tour of this experience on my Instagram post from the event. Look for the post with us in our matching red pajamas!
Mission: Save Christmas features a lot of scenes from the movie Elf. There are fun photo spots. interactive video games and more! It’s all very interactive and hands on. Kids can touch and play with almost anything! And the technology used in many of the experiences is absolutely amazing.
Snow Flow Mountain
In this mechanized, snow play space you will slide through factory conveyor belts that have frozen solid and ride tubes down a thrilling plummet slide or hilly ice coaster at Snow Factory.
So this is probably my kids’ favorite activity of all! Florida kids don’t get the chance to sled ride very often. So at Christmas at Gaylord Palms, you can ride until your hearts content! And something that’s important for parents to know; your ticket is good all day! If you have ticketed admission at 10 am, you can come back and ride Snow Flow Mountain again at 7 pm. We came back in the evening and the kids went snow tubing in their pajamas before bed! Talk about Christmas wonder!
Christmas Shows and Spectaculars in the Atrium
There are several different shows that take place in the atrium of Gaylord Palms. You can watch all of these from your atrium view hotel room as well. This is a great reason to book an atrium view room if you are staying overnight or longer at Gaylord Palms!
Cirque: Spirit of Christmas
This Cirque-styled Christmas show, new for 2021, features dazzling acrobatics, feats of flexibility, and high-flying stunts. This Broadway-style spectacle centers around Noel, a child dismayed and distressed by the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Trying to recapture her lost love of the season, the child is visited by spirits who bring back the true meaning of the season in energetic, dreamlike chapters.
The Greatest Story Stage Show
The birth and life of Jesus Christ has been called “the greatest story ever told.” Experience it through the eyes of six international storytellers in a musical stage show and multicultural celebration of everlasting faith, hope, and love. Complimentary seating available on a first come, first served basis. Guaranteed seating available for purchase.
Shine Light Show
Brand new for 2021, our free Shine Light Show dazzles with thousands of dancing lights, synchronized to a high-energy, seasonal soundtrack. Animated light curtains glow with Christmas imagery around a centerpiece tree that magically transforms into a gleaming and glowing holiday spectacle.
This is probably my personal favorite of all of the Christmas at Gaylord Palms events! And this one is actually free to view from anywhere you can see it from inside the hotel. But you’ll want to take a seat and really appreciate it. The lights are just incredible. I watched this show over and over during our stay at Gaylord Pams!
What are the details of Christmas at Gaylord Palms?
When does it run? November 19, 2021 through January 2, 2022.
What are the prices? This varies a great deal depending on what package you choose and which activities you would like to enjoy! Be sure to check out the ticket website for all of the deals available!
If you’re local, there are deals available for mid-week visits. And if you want to stay overnight or visit other things that Orlando has to offer, there are Stay and Play packages available as well.
What else does the Gaylord Palms have to offer?
The rooms are beautiful, there are lots of dining and shopping options, and the water park is incredible!
Cypress Springs Water Park
An exclusive amenity for our resort guests, Cypress Springs Water Park will thrill your whole family. It features a zero-entry swimming pool, multi-level tree house playground, racing slides, a drop slide, a FlowRider surfing experience, and the thrilling new Crystal River Rapids. Children under 15 years old must be accompanied at all times by an adult.
Crystal River Rapids
Twist and turn through speeding currents, natural waterfalls and limestone rock in this exhilarating new ride. Exciting water activations will surprise and delight as you speed along, including a cave masked by cascading waterfalls, a leaky ruinous wall, seven sprinkling leaves and more. With a state-of-the-art sound system, heated water for year-round enjoyment and alcoves that allow you to stop and take in the stunning views of Cypress Springs Water Park, this new action river attraction will allow for endless family-fun
Big Cypress Tower
Brave our Florida Free Fall drop slide complete with a 35-foot fall through a trap door, where you’ll end by spinning ‘round and ‘round the slide’s giant bowl. If competition gets your heart pounding, choose the Tampa or Miami slide on the Tamiami Twister for a winding and turning race to the deck.
Multi-Level Water Playground
Kids will absolutely flip over our multi-level treehouse playground. Slide down our four water slides, jump around in the geyser and ground spray area, get drenched by our 317-gallon tipping bucket and climb through three levels of water activities fun.
FlowRider Surfing Experience
Feel the rush of our FlowRider, The Wake Zone, where you can body board or surf the waves with demonstrations from our trainers. *Additional Charges Apply. We added this on for our kids, and they just loved it! It’s a really unique experience that we were happy to get to enjoy during our visit to Gaylord Palms.
Christmas at Gaylord Palms is Full of Wonder
We had such an incredible time at Gaylord Palms. We went right before Thanksgiving, and it made us so excited for the holiday season! Whether you are a local looking for some Florida cheer, or traveling to Orlando from somewhere snowy, you’ll find something to love at Christmas at Gaylord Palms.
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