Guide to SO MUCH CHRISTMAS at the Gaylord Texan

Have you been so busy you haven’t had time to do the Christmas stuff? Get in all the holiday fun with our guide to SO MUCH Christmas at the Gaylord Texan.

It’s ironic that the more at home we are, the less time it seems we have to do anything?

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like the days get longer and so does my to do list. So if you’re working hard to get in all in the Christmas – the music, the lights, the pictures, the fun, the movies – the everything – then book a stay at the Gaylord Texan now. Why? Because there’s SO.MUCH.FUN. (And SO.MANY.Photos to go through – exactly 421 in less than 24 hours!)

WHAT’S NEW AT THE GAYLORD TEXAN THIS YEAR

The Gaylord Texan is legendary for its ICE exhibit, but like 2020 has served up, it wasn’t possible this year. So Plan B opened up a few new experiences to add to their already long list of opportunities to make a stay in the Christmas Capital of Texas well even more Christmas…with I Love Christmas Movies! and Yuletide Bright! So just because things are a little different (they’ve made it fun and safe with all their activities!)

CHRISTMAS AT THE GAYLORD TEXAN ACTIVITIES WE DID

But before you go to the Gaylord Texan make sure to have a strategy.

There is really so much to do that you need to make sure you’ve bought all your tickets (this year it’s an online ticket office only.) And since everything is on a schedule, you’ll want to make the most of your time and your photos opportunities (because there’s a lot of them here.) Plus you’ll want to plan for some free time just to rest, especially if you have small kids. And most importantly, you’ll need to figure out food because with the current rules for restaurants, you can’t always just get a seat wherever you want, when you want during #2020 (so basically make sure to make a reservation for the must-haves like Zeppole or the Old Hickory Steakhouse by going to Open Table before your stay.)

Our 24-Hour Itinerary at the Gaylord Texan included:

Check In
You’ll want to take photos when you get there, handle parking, etc. so allow at least :30 minutes to an hour for this!
Build Your Own Snowman
We went in deep immediately with activities, so dress accordingly. It’s cold where all the activities are but you’ll be moving around a lot and you won’t want to deal with a lot of stuff. If you can ditch your purse, do it. You’ll need the jackets and gloves for snowman making.
Snow Tubing
This is our favorite go for the Fast Pass if you can!
Build a Bear Workshop
You will say you won’t do it and you will. Absolutely you have to! While the kids are in line, go get a yummy Christmas cocktail.
Yuletide Bright
This one is outside so this is where the jacket comes in handy!
Dinner and PJ time
To-Go from Zeppole for the win (pasta in our Pjs!) Then we walked around for some cute photos around the hotel! (Christmas card FTW.)

Next Morning

Checkout: We loaded up our stuff so we could leave after our activities with late check out.
I Love Christmas Movies!
We were so excited for this one, so we headed down early to make sure we’re in line (you have only a few people you are with and they are very careful with social distancing!)
FOOD!
At the end of the experience, be ready for Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and Cinnabon which made for a good breakfast without having to get into line at the Marketplace
More Pictures!

EVEN MORE MUST-DO EVENTS

We did a lot in 24 hours. A LOT! But if we had a little more time (like a full weekend), we had already made a list for “Next TIme.” For instance if we were able to go for Christmas Brunch either at Zeppole or Riverwalk Cantina, we totally would. I hope they’ll do this kind of brunch each weekend in December rather than just Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The menus look amazing and if we didn’t have some must-do family events of our own (SANTA), we would be there in a heartbeat!

Other events we wished we could’ve done included:

I Love Christmas Movies!
We did it once but the first time was to experience it, the next time will be for pictures
The Escape Room
My kids have begged to come back just for this and we live close, so we may be back before January)
Gingerbread Making
We’re aggressive Gingerbread making people. But if there’s a competition on this one, it’s on.
Christmas Craft Studio
The Elf on the Shelf Breakfast
Santa’s Snow Throw
Ice Skating
Mistle Toe Heist Scavenger Hunt

…And there’s still more!

Even if you aren’t bringing the kids, a weekend at the Gaylord Texan is still what the doctor ordered for #2020. A trip to the Relache Spa, dinner at Old Hickory Steakhouse and enjoying all the activities (with a few cocktails) is how to escape the chaos and get into the Christmas spirit.

So are you ready to make the most of Christmas? Then head to the Gaylord Texan, where the holidays are going even after Christmas!