10 Tips to Enjoy ICE at the Gaylord Resorts
The crown jewel of the Gaylord Resort's holiday experience is their holiday-themed ICE exhibit that is kept at finger-numbing 9 degrees and features two million pounds of themed hand-carved ice sculptures, ice slides, and also houses approximately three million people at any given time. Kidding, of course, there are only two million people. Seriously though, ICE is a very popular attraction that is quite crowded and sells out during peak times. Enjoying the Gaylord ICE Experience to the fullest takes a bit of strategy, so after going earlier this season with my whole family, here are my Gaylord ICE tips. These tips are based on our trip to the Gaylord Texan Resort near Dallas, though I would assume most of the tips translate to the other Gaylord ICE attractions around the country.
Avoid ICE weekends and holidays unless you love crowds
I'm going to lead with the best piece of advice to increase the enjoyment of your ICE experience, and that is to try and avoid going on weekends and holidays. I know, easier said than done for families with little ones in school, but I still have to say it. Visiting ICE will be cheaper and much less crowded if you can find a way to go when others aren't. If we go again, and I hope to, we will try to go on a school day earlier in the holiday season than the Saturday before Thanksgiving that we chose this time around.
Leave those who don't like crowds off of the ICE invitation list
You may be sensing a theme to these tips already, but assuming you can't avoid peak dates, at least try to limit the invitation list to those who are okay with some lines and waiting. My husband very much does not enjoy very crowded areas, so while we wanted him to experience this holiday activity with the girls, I don't think he would sign up to do it twice simply because it was too crowded for him to enjoy.
Those who pay extra for Fast Passes or who are staying at the hotel can go through a shorter VIP access line, but the crowds will be the same once you are in the attraction.
Go to ICE first thing in the morning
Okay, last bit of harping on the crowds, at least for now, but if you can't avoid going to ICE on weekends and holidays, try to reserve your time slot for first thing in the morning when the crowds are lower and there are just generally fewer people out and about. ICE seems to open at about 10AM, so you don't have to get up too early to avoid peak capacity.
Make your ICE reservation in advance
Certain ICE time slots do sell out, so make your reservation online in advance so that you don't risk getting there only to find out that there are no more tickets available that day. The other thing that happens when ICE is sold out is that all the ancillary attractions like snow tubing and ice skating also start to get exponentially more crowded.
Look for ICE ticket deals to save money
At the Gaylord Texan, an adult ticket to ICE goes for $32.99 during peak times, but it can be had for half that amount if you purchase in advance using discounts. I covered these money-saving tips in much more depth on this post, but in summary, if you want to save money on your ICE visit, follow the Gaylord Resort on Facebook as they post ICE discount codes, check Groupon for discounted admission, bundle the ICE ticket with other attractions, and consider going early in the season.
Don't wear a big coat to ICE, but do bring gloves
Knowing ICE is kept at 9 degrees, we all came prepared for a hike through the arctic tundra, but that actually wasn't a great plan as they sort of require you to take these massive blue ICE parkas. This is great if you don't have winter gear with you, but it isn't that great when you already have a huge coat on and start sweating bullets managing all your gear and a toddler. So, skip wearing big jackets knowing they hand you one, but do bring gloves and potentially a hat. The one exception may be if you are going with a toddler as they didn't have any tiny-human-sized jackets available.
May not be impressive to toddlers
There's never a guarantee that something that is exciting to you will be exciting to a two-year-old, but that is especially true when that something is very stimulating and freezing. My toddler started strong, but by the time she got stuck on the ice slide, it was pretty much all over.
Lean back on the ice slide
I think the coolest part of ICE are the ice slides you can go down as many times as you wish, but there is a trick to going down them successfully (that my two-year-old didn't figure out). The trick to the ice slides is that you really have to lean back or instead of sliding you just have to scoot down very awkwardly on your rear.
Keep a close eye on your kiddos
While this is always true in a busy environment, it is very easy to lose track of your kids at ICE because in matching blue parkas, everyone looks pretty much the same.
Smile and have fun
As you have probably surmised by this point, our first family visit to ICE wasn't perfect, but there were some perfect moments in the midst of it all, especially with our almost eight-year-old who didn't mind the cold, loved the ice slides, and is generally into all things holiday.
If you go with the right people and avoid the absolute peak times, ICE is a pretty special place when you look around and remind yourself that this is all made of ice. If you just rush through it all while trying to keep everyone alive and non-frozen, the beauty and magic of it may be a bit lost on you. My gosh, if that isn't true for the entire holiday season.
A few other pieces of advice when visiting ICE would be to wear sturdy shoes, don't go tired or on an empty stomach, don't bring your stroller, don't expect your camera phone to work well in 9 degrees, and try not to rush through it all as it will be over before you know it.
I'd love to hear your ICE tips if your family has experienced this beautiful frozen holiday attraction!
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.