SummerFest activities at Gaylord Palms (Press Release)

Press Release:


  KISSIMMEE, Fla.—( May 14, 2013 ) Summertime, and the livin’ is easy. It’s time to kick back and soak up the summer fun in style. Splash, slide, sip it down and shake it up with the best of ’em! Step into SummerFest at Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee.
Strike up a splashin’ good time with friends and family at Cypress Springs Family Fun Water Park. Climb the multi-level Tree House play structure and drop down one of four waterslides or drench yourself with its 60 interactive water games. Watch out for the oversized tipping bucket which soaks guests with more than 317 gallons of water every 10 minutes! Then dance your flippers off with your favorite Madagascar DreamWorks Animation (SKG, Inc.) characters at a Crack-A-Lackin’ Pool Party!
At night, settle in poolside to enjoy a DreamWorks Splash ‘N’ Screen movie while you savor some all-American tasty treats from SandBar or a fancy-free food cart. For a quieter tropical oasis, escape to our exclusive adults-only, sophisticated South Beach pool and reserve a cozy poolside cabana.
Perhaps you prefer to enjoy your summertime fun with a more inward glow, one that doesn’t require sunshine? No worries! We’ve got you covered under our 4.5 acre atrium with loads of awesome, one-of-a-kind activities.
Gator and Fish Feedings
It’s a feeding frenzy! Don’t miss the alligator feedings with our friends from Gatorland in the St. Augustine atrium; and catch the fish feedings in the Key West lagoon, filled with 161,000 gallons of water and home to three of Florida's most sought after game fish: redfish, snook and tarpon, among others.
DreamWorks Character Meet & Greets
You never know who you’ll run into around here in the evenings. Gaylord Palms’ atriums are chock-full of celebrities! Snag a hug and snap a photo with your favorite characters from DreamWorks Animation films such as Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda.
Discover Delicious Dining

• Live Music at Sunset Sam’s: This joint is jumpin’! Swing by Sunset Sam’s Friday nights for some tropical island-themed live music while you sink your teeth into the tastiest New World Floridian cuisine, with a variety of fresh seafood prepared to your preference. Saturday evenings are devoted to sizzlin’ Key West Sunset Celebrations featuring music and colorful entertainment reminiscent of what you would find in Mallory Square in Key West.
   
• Sake and Omakase at SORA: Are you ready for the next level of refreshing summertime fun? Stroll in to SORA, which features the art of sushi with the style of South Beach and offers a full bar of handcrafted drinks. Enjoy Sake and Omakase as our chefs showcase traditional Japanese cuisine with a unique Gaylord twist!
   
• The Craft Beer Garden at Wreckers Sports Bar: Wreckers Sports Bar is excited to introduce a new feature on Friday nights this summer: an exclusive Craft Beer Garden! Smack your lips on craft beers and specialty menu pairings before you head inside for dinner or an evening of adventure. Be mesmerized by our two-story sports screen and the feel of an Old Key West bar.
   
• ShrekFeast at Villa de Flora: Guests can kick off their mornings with a ShrekFeast Interactive Character Breakfast at Villa de Flora. Kids will love solving riddles and puzzles on their quest to become an honorary Ogre. Join Shrek and friends for a fairytale feast fit for a king. Tableside hugs included! This experience features a Magic Fountain bubbling over with intoxicating chocolate potions and Shrek-shaped waffles with syrup. Individual tickets are required. Call 407-586-1114 to reserve your seat at the table.

Join us this summer for season-long fun in the sun. Don’t miss out on your chance to make your summer shine with a getaway to Gaylord Palms Resort. Summer packages are available to suit every taste. Just call 407-586-2000 or visit www.gaylordpalms.com/summerfest for details and package information.
Gaylord Palms Resort is located five minutes from the gates of Walt Disney World at 6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34746.


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Kevin Yee is the author of numerous independent Disney books, including the popular Walt Disney World Earbook series and Walt Disney World Hidden History.

ICE at Gaylord Palms 2012 - Merry Madagascar (pics)

The popular ICE! exhibit has returned to Gaylord Palms, the mega-resort just outside Walt Disney World's gates (along Osceola, one of the streets that bisects WDW). You've probably heard of ICE before. It uses two million pounds of ice blocks, some colored with food coloring, to carve into oversized ice sculptures. They bring in professional ice artists from Harbin, China each year to do it, and every year the entire thing is brand new, and always different. 

Until a few years ago, the event specialized in oversized lollipops, fanciful trains, forests scenes with ice animals, polar bears, and so on. Last year, the event got a corporate sponsor, and Shrek was the theme. This year's theme is Madagascar (you know, the animated movies with a lion, zebra, giraffe, etc?) I haven't seen any of those movies, but my kids have, so it's definitely a known property. And no, there is no Circus Afro on display in ICE!

What you will find is a number of scenes of the zoo animals interacting with Santa, since they crashed his sled, but you'll get more details about the storyline in the preshow movie. You won't need the details to enjoy all that ice, though, and admire the artistry.

There are slides made of ice that you (and your kids) can actually slide down. These are always fun, though it seems like this time they are less slippery (or less steep?) and it's harder to get going.

If you come, remember that the warehouse where they do the display is kept at nine degrees Fahrenheit, more than twenty degrees below freezing! You'll get a rental jacket, but by golly you will want long pants and closed shoes. And don't forget mittens or gloves! Lastly, expect to pay $16 (after tax) for the parking at Gaylord Palms.

ICE is open now until January 1, including the holidays. Gaylord Palms also stages a number of other Christmas events, like cookie decorating with Gingy (from Shrek), a Shrek character dinner. See their website for more details and ticket sales. Disclosure: my family and I were invited to a press viewing of ICE with complimentary admission.

Enjoy the photo tour below. And keep an eye out for the one critter that looks (to my eyes) just like a Furby!

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Kevin Yee is the author of numerous independent Disney books, including the popular Walt Disney World Earbook series and Walt Disney World Hidden History.