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My family and I have attended ICE! at Gaylord National in Maryland, for many years – we can remember Snoopy, The Grinch, and A Charlie Brown Christmas themes. This year’s theme, A Christmas Story, was our favorite one yet! Earlier this week we watched the movie, as I wanted all three of my children (12, 9, and 6 years old) to be well acquainted with the characters, theme, and funny scenes from the movie. The scenes that ICE depicted did not disappoint – we were in awe immediately upon entering the cooled-down tent. My daughter (9) can be a bit skeptical of some of our family holiday events (Ugh, Mom, am I even going to like it?) but even she couldn’t deny the incredulity of the house from the movie when we first walked in! You can stand and take pictures on the iconic front porch, with the famous leg lamp glowing through the window behind you. From there, each of the displays takes you on a chronological journey through the plot of the movie with each display being equally as impressive as the next. They were colorful and fun with quotes from the movie to go along with the scene. We all loved it! 

While the Gaylord Hotel was quite busy and had numerous conventions going on, we felt the facility did a good job of helping us find our way to ICE! with signs directing us and the line moved fast and smoothly. There were people helping get us into our blue parkas quickly and efficiently and I noticed the only time we had to wait was so my children could go down the ice slide inside the exhibit, about halfway through. They loved that too! 

While my tickets were in exchange for this review, I was not given any extras like the slides or snowball studio. I appreciated that while the exhibit lets you out in a gift shop (where we did purchase an ornament because we collect them) I didn’t feel like I was bombarded with upcharges or that the layout discouraged me from getting out without spending a fortune. For that, my wallet and I thank you! 

Overall, we really enjoyed the theme and experience we had at ICE! at Gaylord National Resort. We grabbed some food at the market and the lobby bar afterward and found a perfect table that overlooked the Cirque stage – we saw a choir perform around 5:30pm, watched the Cirque show at 6:30pm, and then we even caught the 7:30pm light show before heading home. It was a perfect day and we can’t wait to go back next year! 

LOCATION:

• Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, Maryland, 20745

DATES:

• November 20 – December 31, 2022

TICKET PRICES:

• Tickets range from $27.99 – $44.99 depending on the date and age of the guest.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• Inside the exhibit is kept at a chilly 9 degrees, but they do provide you with a blue parka. We still recommend you wear hats and gloves to keep warm, too.
• Holiday attractions are open to the public, and you do not need to be a hotel guest to enjoy the fun, though you do need to purchase a ticket.
• The slide in the exhibit is for kids and kids at heart, so any age may enjoy it, but you must be wearing a blue parka to enjoy the ice slide.