Gaylord Texan ICE exhibit
 

Taking Hubby and 2-yr old daughter for an quick overnight stay at the Gaylord the Wednesday before Christmas. Little surprise for hubby. If we stay a 2nd night it will be his decision once we get there since I will not tell him about this trip. Baby and I will just wake up and announce that he has been kidnapped for the next 36 hours & take off. (We'll be driving from Austin.)

With that said, I will plan this assuming that we will only stay one night. I want to go to the ICE exhibit/display. We will also want to go to the Sports Bar that evening to watch the Dallas Stars game. Of course there is other sight-seeing to do at the resort. We don't necessarily need to get out and explore Grapevine since we are from the DFW area and can do that any other time.

How long should we plan on spending at ICE? I am debating about buying tickets for the day that we arrive but maybe the next day would be better. We could check-out then go to it. Do you know if you can come and go throughout the day? I saw something online called a flex pass but no explanation. I know I can call the hotel but I would rather know about the experience from people who have experienced it & get your reviews. Thanks for any help you can provide about ICE or the resort itself.

From an earlier thread:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34908245

Hope this helps...
Debi

Here another...same report but with a lot of replies...

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34908240

Debi

I am sorry. Somehow I missed this info when I first searched (maybe I misspelled Gaylord or something). I always try to search before seeking advice. Thanks for the response. I will read the posts now.

To clarify, we USED to live in the DFW area. Now live in Austin. We may go over to FW on our way home & visit the Botanical Gardens or a museum. Just wanted to do a little something since DH is graduating but we have little time or $ to do anything big right now to mark the occasion. He does not know about this place or exhibit I am sure so he will love it.

ICE is a ripoff! In keeping with the Gaylord tradition of overpriced and undervalued facilities, the ICE exhibit is a waste of $25. A handful of mediocre ice sculptures and a pathetic ice slide, it barely meets mall standards. It took all of 12 minutes to go through the brief display, and that was slowed by pushing my mom in a wheelchair. As everybody is doing, outsourced to China for cheap crap. The hotel is a great place, albeit extremely overpriced, but ICE is a must-miss.