Planning a vacation journey to the Dallas–Fort Value space and questioning if ICE! on the Gaylord Texan is value it this yr? The 2025–2026 ICE! attraction brings the story of Elf to life with greater than two million kilos of hand-carved ice sculptures, frozen slides, and immersive vacation scenes inside a 9-degree winter wonderland. Whether or not you’re visiting with youngsters, planning a festive weekend getaway, or searching for the perfect Christmas actions in Texas, this information breaks down every part it is advisable know — together with this yr’s dates, what’s new, what to anticipate inside, and suggestions for benefiting from your go to.

Gaylord Texan ICE!

Yearly from November till early January, the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas, has a Christmas occasion known as ICE! Throughout Ice, there are a selection of issues you are able to do on the Gaylord. The most well-liked is strolling by the huge ICE shows.

Ice Slides

Yearly, the slides are one of many highlights. Children will zip down 20 instances. Adults will take part as soon as after which provide to “maintain the luggage.”

On the BLOCKS Ice Bar

One of many coolest “extras” at ICE! is the in-tent bar expertise (known as On the Blocks), designed particularly for company 21 and older.

• What it’s: A small, unique bar contained in the ICE! attraction the place, for an extra improve, adults can get pleasure from a festive cocktail or beverage.
• Who can do it: Solely company 21 and older, and you should have already got an ICE! ticket — the “On the Blocks” drink-upgrade is a separate add-on you buy earlier than you enter ICE!.
• Why it’s value it: It gives a enjoyable, festive break — a comfy spot to heat up (considerably) and deal with your self whereas the youngsters rediscover the ice slides. Simply bear in mind: the ice bar remains to be inside the identical 9°F setting, so gloves + heat garments are nonetheless a should even in case you’re holding a vacation cocktail!

Nativity

It doesn’t matter what the theme is, every year the final ice room is at all times the identical. A ravishing sculpture of an angel and the nativity scene. It’s at all times gorgeous.

A few of these footage are from after we went in 2014. The theme that yr was Frosty the Snowman. It doesn’t matter what the theme is every year it at all times ends with a nativity scene. The entire Elf-themed images are from 2025. 

Chilly Temperatures

It’s tremendous chilly within the ICE room (9 °F). They do provide you with heavy coats to placed on to assist defend you from the chilly. You wouldn’t have to pay further for these blue coats; they’re included within the worth of admission. Even with the additional coats, Jonah may barely stand to be within the room. We ended up speeding by after standing in line eternally to stroll by. He was seven on the time, so primarily based on that I feel your child must be not less than eight years previous to face up to the chilly. Your youngsters might want to put on gloves, hat, and a coat. In case your youngsters have thermals, I’d have them put on them.

We needed to stand in line eternally to get into the ICE! room. I like to recommend going at an off-peak time or shopping for a line go. In the event you keep on the lodge, you get to bypass the common line. I feel this alone makes it value staying on the lodge.

The complete lodge is adorned inside and outdoors. Making for fixed picture ops.

Parking

It prices $25 to park within the self-parking lot, however not less than the parking storage has a pleasant view of the entrance of the lodge. It’s a great spot for a photograph opp of the lodge. It’s $45 to valet. Throughout the ICE occasion, they promote pre-paid parking beginning at $20. Costs appear to rely upon how busy they are going to be every day.

ICE! and Snow Tubing Combo Pricing

Once we went, we obtained the mixed tickets for snow tubing and the ICE! room. I can’t keep in mind what we paid, however we did get a navy low cost. Once we went, you solely obtained to tube a handful of instances, however now you get to go limitless instances. That makes it value getting the tubing choice. Listed below are the present costs for the combo tickets.

Contains ICE! Ticket + limitless Snow Tubing runs.

Different actions out there through the Lone Star Christmas:

The Elf on the Shelf® Scavenger Hunt

Virtually all packages embrace this scavenger hunt. We did this, and it took about 2.5 hours to search out 10 hidden elves. My son was rewarded with a coloring guide for ending. Though we had loads of enjoyable doing the scavenger hunt, he hated the prize. Undecided what he thought he would win.

Santa’s Snowball Throwing Workshop

Cookies & Milk with Mrs. Claus

Gingerbread Adorning Nook (gingerbread man package)

Glacier Glide Ice Skating

There’s a small ice rink at ICE and ice skates you may hire. Attempt to be the primary out on the recent ice for the perfect expertise. The ice will worsen all through the day.

Christmas Carousel

For $6.99, your youngsters can experience the carousel.

Gaylord Texan ICE! Coupons

Verify present costs on the Gaylord Texan lodge.

Ideas for Visiting ICE!

1. Go early within the season or on weekdays.

Weekends can get packed. Like, “why did we do that to ourselves?” packed.

2. Purchase tickets prematurely.

Well-liked time slots promote out yearly.

3. Preserve your youngsters shut within the tent.

It’s crowded and the mixture of freezing chilly and excited youngsters is… chaotic.

4. Convey gloves for everybody.

Belief me — fingers freeze quickest.

5. Put together for Texas-sized pricing.

Combo tickets for ICE! and different sights range yr to yr. Costs change usually, so verify the official Gaylord Texan Christmas web site for present charges.

Is ICE! Value It?

Completely — particularly in case you love vacation traditions, dazzling artistry, and the magic of seeing your youngsters lose their minds over sparkly frozen sculptures. It’s a once-a-year expertise that brings the story of Elf to life in a method you’ll by no means see anyplace else.

Plus, you get to inform everybody you survived 9 levels in Texas.

Ultimate Ideas

ICE! on the Gaylord Texan stays among the finest — and most unusual — vacation sights within the Dallas–Fort Value space. Whether or not you go for the nostalgia, the slides, the images, or simply to make your youngsters comfortable, it’s a festive, enjoyable, and barely chilly journey the entire household will keep in mind.