Florida is an absolutely fabulous place to live but there are a few minor drawbacks; one of the most significant of these hits shortly after Thanksgiving. About that time, residents that have transplanted from other, more seasonal, locations (and that includes most of us), start to miss the winter weather change that normally accompanies the onset of the holidays. The calendar can seem a bit confusing when November and December arrive but our temperatures still merit a trip to the beach. Seeking a remedy to this lack of winter, my family decided to travel to Kissimmee, Florida.
Kissimmee is the home to "ICE" at the Gaylord Palms resort. After hearing and reading about the famed "ICE" exhibit, I was very curious to see it in person. I also thought my children would enjoy the opportunity to experience this awe inspiring display of frozen water. I knew very little about the resort that hosted it; just that they are very hard to miss when leaving the Disney property. From I-4 you can see the gigantic hotel as the glass roof that encloses the atrium of their 4.5 acre building stands out like a beacon in the dark of night. We decided to stay one night, take in the ICE exhibit, and rest before heading back home from a brief weekend in Orlando. I expected a very large, typical hotel with hundreds of ordinary box-shaped rooms, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Big doesn't even begin to describe the Gaylord Palms, from its oversized lobby and lush garden-filled atrium to the abundant buffet in their Villa de Flora restaurant—even the generous portions of shampoo and conditioner in your room—everything at the resort was large. I was very surprised that our list of choices for activities as resort guests was also over-sized. To name just a few of the entertainment possibilities, here is a partial listing: miniature golf, an ‘adults only’ swimming pool, a second ‘family’ pool with a water slide, a water play zone, the Gingerbread Workshop, the Christmas wreath exhibit, a model train display, gator feedings, fish feedings, horticulture tours, four different stage shows, a fitness center, a gnome hunt challenge, and of course the fabulous ICE exhibit. I was completely overwhelmed. Not wanting to miss anything important, I asked if I could get a tour of the resort. Monika, the gracious and knowledgeable front desk attendant, offered to give me a personal tour and spent a good while escorting me through the atrium, courtyards and conference center.
After walking through the biggest revolving door I've ever seen, the cavernous lobby welcomed and reminded me of the architecture of my favorite city, St Augustine. This was not a coincidence as the resort itself has a "Florida" theme. There are three specific geographical areas featured: Key West, the Everglades, and St Augustine. Among the vast array of foliage in the atrium is a replica fort inspired by Castillo de San Marco in St Augustine. This is also where you’ll find Spanish treasures recovered by Mel Fisher on exhibit in glass display cases. Small alligators from Gatorland lazily occupy the moats surrounding the fort. If I was a gator, I know I’d want to live there. As I admired the gardens around the fort, I was reminded that "La Florida" (or land of the flowers) was the name that the Spanish gave our peninsula when they landed.
Monika and I wandered toward the resort’s spa and fitness center and the landscape transitioned to the Florida Everglades. The only thing missing was the mosquitoes. More trees, bushes and plants sprang up around the boardwalk as we passed the "Old Hickory Steakhouse", a dining establishment complete with teahouses that opened into the Everglades area of the atrium. We rounded the bend and entered the snake and gator shack—yes, they even had snakes (fortunately without venom and in a contained area). Later that night I was charmed to see "fireflies" lighting up the brush in this same area. The fitness center and spa were equipped with more than adequate amenities (though I regret I didn’t have an opportunity to truly scrutinize the spa). Monika informed me that this is considered the more quiet area of the resort since all of the interior rooms feature balconies opening onto the atrium, and the other two sections of the resort host live performances. If you prefer a very quiet stay, ask the front desk clerk to put you in the Everglades.
We strolled back toward St. Augustine and passed several quaint boutiques, meeting rooms, a coffee shop, and the main stage for the holiday shows. We walked through the glass enclosed passage to the convention center as Monika shared a few details about "ICE". The experts that build the exhibit fly in from Harbin, China, more than a month before it opens to the public. First they build the tent that houses the display (which is kept at a consistent 9 degrees), then they freeze, assemble, and carve nearly two million pounds of ice. As you go though the queue to see ICE you are loaned a parka that will keep you mostly warm—BYOG (bring your own gloves!)—then you may view the many rooms of ice carvings that include a life size nativity, ice slides, a carousel, and several other themes.
When I enjoyed ICE a few hours later with my family, I was thrilled to come upon a group of the ICE engineers from China. They were busy at work repairing minor damage to a 3-D poinsettia. Though they specifically ask visitors not to touch the ice, something had happened to break off a petal of one of the beautiful flowers they had so carefully carved. I watched in wonder as they quickly repaired the damaged flower. When they finished, I eagerly asked them a few questions, but realized they didn’t speak English when they stared at me quietly and apologetically. Disappointed, I remembered the only sentence I know in Mandarin. "Gung hey fat choy," I proudly said, hoping for some shred of communication. Still the blank stare…either they speak another dialect, my Mandarin is that bad, or they just thought it was ridiculous for me to wish them a Happy New Year at the beginning of December (since Chinese New Year is in February).
Monika led me away from the ICE exhibit and pointed out the place to take my kids to meet Santa, another area where we could e-mail him our Christmas wishes, an elaborate model train village, the ICE gift shop, and a county wreath collection. She also gave me the schedule for the holiday stage shows. The Gaylord Palms staff thinks of everything, and they were even giving out hot chocolate to help warm the chilled participants as they re-entered the atrium from the ICE exhibit. Continuing our tour, we admired the gigantic Christmas tree that stretched toward the roof of the atrium, far above the nine stories of hotel around it. We wandered by a European themed buffet restaurant named Villa de Flora, passed a few more shops, and then entered Key West. As the resort surroundings changed, so too did the music and the live strains of a Jimmy Buffet tune drifted our way from the large boat docked in the lagoon. The dock led past a sandy beach with several sand sculptures and many varieties of fish, including sting rays, glided slowly by in the crystal clear water. We walked on and as we approached the sailboat and the dock beside it, I realized it was the resort’s seafood restaurant when the enticing smell of food greeted us. Through the glass wall by the lagoon, you could see the family pool with a large octopus water slide, water play area, and even more lush tropical foliage. Even though the swimming pools are all outside, I was informed that the water is heated to keep it a comfortable temperature year round.
The resort went on and on—a sports bar, an upscale sushi restaurant, beautiful courtyards, and a bocce ball court were among the other amenities. After viewing almost everything, I wandered back to my room where I enjoyed the view of the Christmas tree from my balcony. We opened the double doors just as a stage show began and we enjoyed Christmas carols echoing through the beautifully decorated atrium. The design of the Gaylord Palms, and their warm friendly staff, made us feel more like we were guests in a community, not just strangers sleeping in a hotel room. Our family was so surprised! Perhaps my seven year old said it best: "I thought it was just going to be a hotel with ice, but I found out it was a hotel with a whole bunch of stuff that kids like to do. When can we come back?"
We found ourselves wishing we could stay longer.
Families who would like to return to the Gaylord Palms will want to take part in the “Hidden Holiday Gnome Hunt" until January 10, 2010. You’ll search for twenty hidden gnomes that can be found in the Atrium and main areas of the resort. If you can find at least ten of the gnomes, you may enter their drawing for a VIP package that features a two night stay in a presidential suite at the resort. Our family enjoyed searching for the gnomes and found seventeen of them during our stay.
If you don't want to wait for the drawing, there are also a number of special holiday packages available now at the Gaylord Palms. Visit their site at www.GaylordPalms.com or call them at (407)586-2000 for more information or to book your reservation. Don't forget your gloves!
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