The Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, TX unveils their new signature immersive pop-up Christmas experience along with their fan favorites!
When: November 13 to January 3
Where: Gaylord Texan Hotel and Resort, 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX 76051
We recap our visit and share tips on how long your visit might be, what experiences are available for you and the cost of each and information about coming as a daily visitor and parking.
We were hosted by the Gaylord Texan Resort but our opinions are our own. The post contains affiliate links for your ticket purchase, at no cost to you.
What is happening at the Gaylord Texan this Holiday Season?
Walk in to the Atrium and you are met with 2 million twinkling lights, 15,000 ornaments, and dozens of lavish holiday displays filling the vast hotel atrium.
Their restaurants and eateries are open along with their stores, which are filled with local Texan-themed products and gift ideas.
What is there to do at the Gaylord Texan this Christmas?
Head towards the Convention Center and you’ll notice the Yuletide Bright exhibit filling a huge parking lot with views from the windows and on the driveway up to the property.
Their Signature experience is named I Love Christmas Movies™ – a New One-of-a-Kind Movie-Themed Christmas Experience, in Partnership with Warner Bros. We headed there first, after securing a timed-slot to allow for distancing.
You’ll get to explore with a trained tour guide, the interactive sets themed with 5 of your favorite Christmas movies:
- The Polar Express
- A Christmas Story
- Elf
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- The Year without Santa Claus
It’s immersive, with fun visual effects, lighting and the music from the movies. Listen out to hear backlot stories about the sets themselves or interesting facts about the characters, producers and directors.
In the multi-sensory exhibits, you’ll enjoy over 13 fully immersive scenes complete with replicas of film props, audio clips and more, making you feel as if you have stepped into part of the actual story.
You’ll travel with Buddy the Elf from Santa’s North Pole workshop to New York City; take photos in front of the Griswold’s house adorned with thousands of Christmas lights and more.
Allow 15-20 minutes for this fun experience, with tons of opportunities for photos!
Head out to the center area where you’ll find many of the Gaylord’s festive experiences, like
- Snow Tubing
- Ice Skating
- Snow Throw
- Christmas Carousel
- Gingerbread Decorating
- Christmas Craft Studio
- Build-a-Bear workshop
Expect some festive eating and drinking options and a huge gift store
In addition to these experiences, head outside to the Yuletide Bright exhibit for 50,000 square feet of colorful, glowing and holiday-themed lanterns, characters and scenes to celebrate Christmas.
The walkways are very wide, to allow plenty of space between guests, so you can enjoy it without crowds and get plenty of photo opps in the meantime.
What are the Pricing and Bundle Options?
To enter the Signature I Love Christmas Movies™ experience
Price:
$23.99 per Adult – Value Day Pricing
$14.99 per Child (Ages 4-11) – Value Day Pricing
$21.99 per Senior (Ages 55+) – Value Day Pricing
$31.99 per Adult – General Admission Pricing
$20.99 per Child (Ages 4-11) – General Admission Pricing
$29.99 per Senior (Ages 55+) – General Admission Pricing
To enter the Yuletide Bright outdoor exhibit
Price:
$15.00 per Adult
$10.00 per Child (4-11)
| Play & Save | Platinum | Gold | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Love Christmas Movies™ | x | x | x |
| Snow Tubing | x | x | x |
| Scavenger Hunt | x | x | x |
| Gingerbread Decorating | x | x | |
| Snow Throw | x | x | |
| Ice Skating | x | ||
| Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions | x | ||
| Extra options available at a discount | Save 30% | Save 20% | Save 15% |
Buy your Tickets ahead and Bundle them up to get bigger discounts.
Extra attractions include the Carousel (unlimited rides), Escape Room (weekdays only), Christmas Craft Studio and Yuletide Bright.
Wait till dark and head outside to visit Yuletide Bright – a huge outdoor lantern and light walkthrough.
How long should we allow for our Visit?
If you choose to enjoy most of the attractions and enjoy a meal and drinks, we think this could provide 3-4 hours of entertainment!
Can you visit Gaylord Texan without staying there?
Yes, you can visit for the day or evening, without staying. You can make a real staycation out of it by asking about their overnight Christmas packages inclusive of entrance into the I Love Christmas Movies immersive pop-up experience.
Is there a Parking fee?
Self-Parking Rates
0-2 hours: $17
2-4 hours: $19
4+ hours: $22
Overnight Parking: $22
Valet available for hotel guests.
Trust the Gaylord Texan, owned by Marriott International, to provide a Covid-safe experience for you.
“More than ever this winter, friends and families will be seeking places they can go to experience the joy and magic of the holiday season together in a safe setting, and we are looking forward to providing an amazing selection of unique and memorable experiences for them at our (open) resorts in a safe and secure manner,” said Mike Stengel, Senior Vice President of Gaylord Hotels at Marriott International.
As the safety of its guests and STARS (employees) is of paramount importance, the Christmas at Gaylord Hotels program is being developed in accordance with Marriott’s “Commitment to Clean” program and with enhanced protocols and social-distancing measures.
Programming will also operate in consideration with the latest local, state and federal legislation.
