WHAT:

 
BIRTHDAY FUN FOR FREE: Crowning the celebration is a Disney Parks first: Guests can receive free admission to one of the Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme parks on their birthday in 2009. All it takes is a valid ID including proof of birth date. (Guests who already hold a multi-day ticket or an annual pass that they will use on their birthday can choose an alternate birthday treat instead, but will not be entitled to a cash refund or credit.) Guests can get more details and start the process by registering their birthdays at www.disneyparks.com.

HOW DO I CELEBRATE? MAGICAL EXPERIENCES APLENTY:  At Walt Disney World Resort, guests can add on to the fun, choosing from more than 200 experiences ranging from breathtaking (fireworks cruises, sunrise safaris, diving the depths among sea life) to mirth-making (Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, character dining, kids’ pirate adventures).  

 
PLANNING NOW EASIER THAN EVER: New Web planning tools will make it easier than ever for guests to create celebrations large and small, with opportunities to customize and personalize their experiences.

  
PUTTING ‘SPECIAL’ IN SPECIAL OCCASION: Disney advance planners can custom-order cakes, flowers, balloons and more. The fun even extends to table-service restaurants where celebrants can make special dining arrangements. 

 
IT’S A PARTY IN THE PARK!: A celebration street party invites guests of all ages into the heart of the castle parks to join Disney characters and dozens of performers in a celebratory song and dance party at the Magic Kingdom.

To combat the problem, season passholders for select Florida theme parks are invited to receive a choice of a free child’s admission to ICE!  or a half-price adult admission to ICE!, with the purchase of a regularly-priced adult admission. 

This offer is available by showing a current season pass at the ICE! Box Office during the dates of Dec. 19, 2008 through Jan. 4, 2009.   

This promotion is valid for season passholders of the following theme parks:  all Walt Disney World theme parks and water parks, all Universal Orlando theme parks, SeaWorld Adventure Park, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Aquatica, and Wet ‘n Wild. [Note:  This includes all types of "season" and "annual" passes, including the Florida Fun Card at SeaWorld or Busch Gardens.]

The fine print:   Only one complimentary or discounted ticket will be issued per season passholder, with purchase of a regularly priced adult ICE! ticket.  Season passholder must be present, and will be required to show valid theme park season pass.  Child tickets valid for children ages 4 through 12 only.

For more information, please visit http://www.gaylordhotels.com/passholder.

About ICE!

At ICE!, guests can explore a whimsical winter wonderland of larger-than-life, three-dimensional hand-carved ice monuments and sculptures, including fantastic frozen creations, slippery ice slides, and memorable holiday scenes.  As for the chill, visitors are given oversized parkas to stay comfortable inside the attraction, which is kept at a blustery 9 degrees.  

In its sixth season, ICE! reflects the theme “Santa’s Arctic Blast,” featuring several scenes that star  “Jolly Cold Saint Nicholas” himself. 

One such scene is an oversized photo opportunity featuring a 13.5-foot-tall Santa Claus.  Visitors can sit on the knee of this colossal Santa, providing an interesting perspective – and a fun photo!  Another guest favorite, the ICE! castle and slides, have been re-designed to celebrate Santa’s Christmas Eve flight… reindeer and all!

The attraction’s signature scene, a life-size Nativity carved completely of crystal-clear ice, has been described as one of the most breathtaking depictions of the birth of Christ.  Dramatic lighting and a stirring narrative track give guests an opportunity to pause and reflect on the story behind the season.

This year’s attraction is presented by Coca-Cola and Walgreen’s and sponsored by Nissan.

In addition to ICE!, this year’s Best of Florida Christmas program includes an entire slate of holiday revelry:

• Hidden Holiday Gnome Hunt:  Families can hunt throughout the Gaylord Palms atriums to spot cleverly hidden gnomes.
• Christmas in Florida: The County Wreath Collection:  An exhibition of wreaths decorated to reflect Florida’s diverse destinations, from coast to coast.
• The Majestic Christmas Tree, perched atop the Castillo de San Marcos fort, towering more than 70 feet above Emerald Plaza.
• Live stage entertainment, on select dates.
• Santa visits. (Or, if you're shy, you can send him your wish list via email at an on-site terminal!)
• Holiday brunch with Mrs. Claus on select weekends at Villa de Flora.
• In addition, guests can enjoy themed décor and holiday lights throughout each of the resort's three atriums.

ICE! tickets range from $9.99 - $24.99, depending on the type of ticket, and day of the week. 

For more information or reservations, call (407) 586-4-ICE.  To learn more about ICE! or Best of Florida Christmas, guests can visit http://www.gaylordpalms.com/ice.  To learn more about other holiday events in Central Florida, visit http://www.ChristmasInOrlando.com.

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Orlando Sentinel's Theme Park Rangers point us to a "sneak peek" of Disney's televised Christmas Parade, here and here.  And Universal Studios' MACY'S holiday parade balloons here.

The Orlando Sentinel has posted a gallery of photos from Orlando's theme parks, including the shot above of The Osbourne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  It includes images that have run in the print editions throughout the years.  You can find the gallery here.

They have posted a second gallery that includes photos of ICE!, taken by Orlando Sentinel photographers over the past six years.  It even includes some shots of the Orlando Polar Bear Club's trek through the 9-degree attraction!  You can find the gallery here.

The very first gathering of the Orlando Polar Bear Club was a success!  A large crowd gathered Friday morning at Gaylord Palms Resort to run through the 9-degree ICE! attraction… in swimwear!

Why?  I'm not sure one can fully explain.

For one, it was a fundraiser for Special Olympics Florida.   And it was one of those things to do… just to say you did it!

For highlights there is a video posted on YouTube:

If you want to see more photos, they are available on the club's Facebook group page.  There are also several in the Orlando Sentinel ICE! photo gallery.

For many in Central Florida, the blues have returned.

According to today's Orlando Sentinel, the historic Cypress Gardens theme park will temporarily close on Nov. 17 and reopen in March as a smaller, more focused park. 

This, of course, means that the park's popular "Old-Fashioned Christmas" celebration, which once boasted the world's largest Christmas tree (a whopping 116-feet tall!), will remain dark this season. 

Here's hoping that Florida's oldest theme park can use the hiatus to get their finances in order, and emerge in the spring as a more profitable endeavor.

We'll be first in line next Christmas!

Why?  Well, it's a fundraiser for Special Olympics Florida.

The press release further explains:  "The short answer is simple… 'just because'," said [Gaylord Palms] resort General Manager Kemp Gallineau. "Because it's fun and memorable — something to laugh about, brag about and blog about.  And not everybody can go to Pamplona to run with the bulls."

For those who have not heard of the ICE! attraction, it is a 9-degree walk-through winter wonderland hand carved from two million pounds of ice.  It's one of those you've-got-to-see-it-to-believe-it attractions.  This year, you can experience ICE! AND bring home wacky photos.   How can you pass that up?

The Orlando Polar Bear Club debut, which should make for good television news coverage, will be held at 8:30am on Nov. 28 at the Gaylord Palms ICE! attraction.  Tickets are available online.

For further updates about Orlando Christmas events, including ICE! at Gaylord Palms, visit www.christmasinorlando.com

Mannheim Steamroller is known for their unique instrumental tracks that founder Chip Davis calls  "18th Century classical rock."  

The group, which enjoys enormous popularity during the Christmas season, collaborated on the music for last year's original stage show "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" which will once again be performed at Seuss Landing inside Islands of Adventure theme park.

The Universal Studios concerts, held at 6pm and 8pm on Dec. 6,  will include music from the IOA "Grinch" show, old favorites, and selections from the new Steamroller CD Christmasville.  It is the only scheduled holiday-season appearances by Steamroller founder Chip Davis.

According to the Sentinel report, the concerts will be included in regular theme-park admission.   

For further updates about Orlando Christmas events, including ICE! at Gaylord Palms, visit www.christmasinorlando.com

 
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Oct. 28) — Central Florida residents woke up this morning to a  burst of cold air that is being blamed on, of all things, an Osceola county resort. According to news wire reports, the cause of this morning's cool weather has been traced to Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, where a new holiday attraction is currently under construction.

 
The attraction, which is called ICE!, is currently being carved from 2 million pounds of ice by a group of 40 artisans from China. The temperature began falling when the elaborate refrigeration system used to cool the 18,000-square-foot attraction to 9 degrees began to malfunction.

 
"Essentially, they've created a 9-degree winter-like environment in the middle of sunny  Florida," said an Osceola county official who asked not to be identified. "What they didn't count on was the accidental cooling of the entire region to 40-some  degrees."

 
The attraction, which is nearly complete, will debut Nov. 17. The attraction will be open to the public through Jan. 4.

 
In its sixth season, ICE! will reflect the theme "Santa's Arctic Blast," featuring several scenes that star "Jolly Cold Saint Nicholas" himself. One such scene is a colossal Santa Claus photo opportunity, carved in an oversized scale.  Visitors who sit on his knee will be dwarfed in the photo.  Other scenese include Candy Land, a magical destination reminiscent of America’s favorite children’s board game.  The ICE! castle and slides have been re-designed to celebrate Santa's Christmas Eve flight… reindeer and all. 

According to Gaylord Palms spokesman Keith Salwoski, the situation is under control.

 
"Our attraction is still 9 degrees, and by afternoon, Orlando temperatures will be back near 70 degrees," he said. "So, in the mean time, we welcome local residents to, um, chill out!"

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For further updates on Orlando Christmas, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, or Christmas at Orlando theme parks, visit ChristmasInOrlando.com