KISSIMMEE — Gaylord Palms Resort is entering its “Ice!” age again.

Work on the elaborate holiday ice-sculpture event is underway, as artisans from Harbin, China, chip away at big blocks of ice to form 11 colorful scenes from TV’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” They use chainsaws, scrapers and assorted sharp objects, which were all apparent during a Friday media preview.

It’s the first time “Rudolph” has been presented at the annual Central Florida event. Although it has been seen at other Gaylord hotel properties, the icy exhibition has undergone a complete redesign that is making its debut this year, said Niko Nickolaou, senior director of special events and experiences for the Gaylord resorts.

“We really invested in taking the design, elevating it to something completely different,” Nickolaou said. “People want to go be immersed in things. This is really immersive. It’s interactive. It has some incredible photo moments.”

A Chinese artisan carves a character — do you recognize which one? — from TV’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” during a media preview of the annual Ice! event at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)

One photo op includes popping up between icy versions of Rudolph and Hermey, the dentist-aspiring elf. The walk-through displays start off with a scene representing the storm of the century, as seen in the 1964 TV special, and also have figures to illustrate “reindeer games” and the Island of Misfit Toys.

It’s a work in progress. The carvers have put in about a week on a job expected to take 33 days. For now, some characters lack facial expressions, or appear to have wandered into the wrong setting.

Chinese artisans who create the annual Ice! event at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center are welcomed to the Kissimmee venue on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)

Workers were smoothing edges on tall walls Friday amid stacked blocks of ice. More than 1,000 tons of ice will be incorporated, Gaylord officials said, and more continues to be trucked into the resort. Each pallet has slabs weighing about 2,600 pounds.

The artisans work in a space that’s kept at a nippy 9 degrees, where it will stay for the run of “Ice!”

The workers were tackling the walls surrounding five slides in one of the most popular segments of “Ice!” on Friday.

“That’s our signature room. We spend most of our ice blocks in that room,” Nickolaou said.

Eventually, the slide room will feature a massive version of Bumble, the abominable snow monster.

“We want to make sure that it connects in a different way,” Nickolaou said. “But also, when you walk into the room, the first thing you do is you reach into your pocket, you pull out the phone, and you have to take a picture.”

Chinese artisans work on a Nativity scene during the Oct. 17 media preview of the annual Ice! event at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)

Gaylord’s holiday activities, which again include indoor snow tubing, run Nov. 14 through Jan. 4.

Another debut in the Gaylord Palms holiday lineup is a Jack Frost-themed “chocolate activation,” said Meghan Hash, director of special events and entertainment.

“Also new at Christmas at Gaylord Palms this year, we have our Cirque show ‘Pomp, Snow and Cirqueumstance,’” she said. “It’s based on a Broadway show and a best-selling children’s book.”

The “Ice!” event is a holiday and hot-weather diversion for Floridians and visitors. Parkas are provided, but most people opt for more protection in order to stay longer.

“Bundle up,” Hash said. “Layers are your friend. Definitely hats, definitely gloves. Hand warmers are encouraged.”

For tickets and more information, go to christmasatgaylordhotels.com.

dbevil@orlandosentinel.com

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/17/ice-preview-1018/