If all you wanted for Christmas was an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time, you might be in luck. This year, ICE! at Gaylord Palms has brought the holiday classic “A Christmas Story” to life in stunning detail, and with about 2 million pounds of shaped, molded and carved ice!
The annual holiday tradition of ICE! at Gaylord Palms has taken many shapes over the years, and each one more unique than the previous year. This year is one of the most unique, as it’s one of the first times that the event has adapted a live action film to fit the annual exhibit. Normally, you can find things such as animated classics, or even holiday stories. This year it presents a very different challenge for the ice builders as they take a different approach to bringing the story to life.
Check out our awesome walkthrough of ICE in the player below!
Video-You’ll Shoot your eye out kid! Walk through ICE at Gaylord Palms Resort!
How does A Christmas Story measure up to the rest of the previous editions of ICE? Just as you’d expect, it’s cold, it’s very bright and very festive. A Christmas Story, if you’ve never seen it, is a 1983 holiday film that depicts the traditional family Christmas in the earlier part of the century. It tells the story from a kids perspective as he’s growing up and going through the normal aches and pains of childhood. It’s a Christmas classic and a must watch for many families during the holiday season.
Every scene is done with meticulous detail, and done in a unique way. Unlike the many other ICE exhibits in the past, A Christmas Story is the first that is based off of a live action film. That presented a challenge for the ice carvers, and planners of the exhibit. How do you go from live action to ice? Previous editions have included cartoon characters, such as Charlie Brown and Frosty the Snowman, but A Christmas Story is a bit different in that the main characters are actual people. When setting it up, do you go with trying to replicate every characters facial features? Or do you try to make it a bit different? ICE goes a different route, and uses clear ice to replicate the faces and skin tones of all the characters. The clothes and all the props are completely colorful, but the faces and skin of the characters are all clear. It gives the ability to see the characters, without having to worry about the characters coming out wrong.
And the most important part is that you get to see all of your favorite scenes, like the Triple Dog Dare.
Another favorite scene, one that absolutely had to be in the exhibit, is the “Major Award”. The leg lamp is definitely here, and in two scenes. You can see the house from the film, with the lamp giving off the “soft glow of gleaming electric sex”, and a close up scene as well. The lamp actually lights up, and is a hilarious part to ICE.
Another famous scene is, of course, the visit with Santa. Here it’s made with amazing detail, and the perfect addition. The scene is turned into the famous Ice slide, which almost seemed like a given. You go up to the sneering elves, and right down past Santa who declares “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out Kid”. The detail is pretty amazing, and of course the ice slides are fun.
Here’s a pro tip-ice and your clothes don’t mesh too well. But the parkas that are given at the beginning of the exhibit makes for an amazing sled. Make sure when you sit down that you get your parka under your butt, and you lean back, lifting your legs off the slide. It makes for a better and faster experience.
Overall, A Christmas Story is an amazing addition to Christmas at Gaylord Palms. It’s a great way to spend the holidays and for fans of this family classic, it’s a great way to relive it. The live action story telling of ICE is definitely on par, and opens doors for more classics in the future. Could we hope for National Lampoons Christmas Vacation next? Maybe not, but we can definitely see perhaps It’s a Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Carol happening in the near future.
What films would you like to see?
Check out more pictures from not only ICE at Gaylord Palms, but the entire Christmas at Gaylord Experience.
Slideshow-Check our pictures from Christmas at Gaylord Palms
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Ice at Gaylord Palms isn’t the only big event happening at the hotel this holiday season. The hotel has pulled out all the stops, as they do every Christmas, to make the family welcome for the holidays. There is easily a full days worth of events at the hotel, just with the Christmas activities alone. We’ll take a deeper look in the coming days, so stay tuned!
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For more information about Holidays at Gaylord Palms, including reservations, visit the official site by clicking here!
