A walk-through holiday attraction made of carved, colored ice at the Gaylord Rockies resort in Aurora, kept at 9°F. This season's theme is Disney's “Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas,” with ice tunnels and two-story ice slides. Christmas at Gaylord Rockies runs Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027.
Know before you go. ice! doesn't list sensory hours or a quiet room. Here's what the resort says about the cold, the slides, the tickets and the rules.
“The attraction is kept at a brisk 9°F.” Parkas are provided: “calf-length winter parka with a hood (available in sizes from infants up to adult 4XL).” christmasatgaylordrockies.com
Space
“The ice slides require guests to walk up steps unassisted and meet specific height requirements.” The slide room has “five lanes and one child-sized slide.” christmasatgaylordrockies.com
Sound
“From themed music and interactive video elements to iconic photo ops for the whole family.” christmasatgaylordrockies.com
Rules
“All tickets are single-entry, meaning once you exit the attraction, you cannot re-enter.” “Strollers and wagons, whether pushed or pulled, are not permitted inside the ice! attraction.” christmasatgaylordrockies.com
Waits
“Guests who are more than five minutes late to their appointed time cannot be guaranteed entry.” “We recommend arriving at least 20 minutes early. Gaylord Rockies is a large property.” christmasatgaylordrockies.com
“Most guests spend 20-40 minutes inside, but you can take as long as you like.”
Our note Single entry means a break happens inside or ends the visit. Decide ahead which it will be.
Our note The slides need steps and a height check. Ask staff how to skip them if your kid would rather not.
Three things to know
“All tickets must be purchased in advance.” They're sold online only; there is no box office on site.
Parking: self-parking is $35 and valet is $49, plus tax; day guests pay each time they park, and the resort is cashless.
“Tickets purchased by day guests are non-refundable.” You can ask to change the day or time by replying to your confirmation email before your ticket time, if there's space.
Buy timed tickets online ahead; there's no box office on site. The resort is big, so plan to arrive at least 20 minutes early. You get a hooded parka to wear, then walk carpeted paths past ice sculptures, with themed music and video along the way. The ice slides have steps to climb. Most people spend 20 to 40 minutes, and once you leave you can't go back in. Change anything.
Common questions
What if my child won't look at the schedule or story?
That is common at first. Leave it where the moment happens, point to one picture at a time, and keep it low-pressure. Many kids warm up to it after a few calm tries, in their own time.
Can I make this in Spanish?
Yes. Every tool and this page exist in Spanish, and the printed page comes out in the language you choose. Use the language switch at the top.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no signup, and we don’t keep what you type; anything you save stays on your device. Make it, print it, done.
