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Orlando Lands Branch of Famed Polar Bear Club

For more than 100 years, members of Polar Bear Clubs around the world have gathered in their bathing suits to take the plunge into icy winter-chilled lakes and waterways. While its easy to chalk it up as an oddball Northern phenomenon, the very existence of such clubs have long distinguished Northern cities from Southern towns. Until today.

Orlando is the newest metropolis with a branch of the famed Polar Bear Club. This new organization -- based loosely on the traditions of its kooky Northern counterparts -- will give residents (and visitors) the opportunity to take their own cold-weather plunge through ICE! (http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-palms/special-events/kissimmee-orlando-events/ICE/index.htmlsource=prweb_pbclub), Orlando'ss 9-degree holiday attraction hand-carved from nearly two million pounds of ice.

The attraction, carved by a team of 40 artisans from China, features a walk-through winter wonderland of ice sculptures and monuments, all intricately carved from ice. The highlight of the attraction -- four ice speed slides -- will provide a thrilling (and icy) plunge for Orlando members of the Polar Bear Club.

The inaugural plunge will be held Nov. 28 at 8:30 a.m. Tickets include the only opportunity this season to visit ICE! in a bathing suit. Participants will be named official members of the Orlando Polar Bear Club and will receive a special certificate to commemorate their plunge. A post-plunge warm-up reception will include coffee and cocoa. In addition, participants will be invited to return to the attraction later that morning while fully clothed to enjoy the artistry of ICE!

But why would a person want to run through the 9-degree ICE attraction in a bathing suit

The short answer is simple 'sjust because's, said resort General Manager Kemp Gallineau. Because it'ss fun and memorable -- something to laugh about, brag about and blog about.

And not everybody can go to Pamplona to run with the bulls, he continued.

The special Orlando Polar Bear Club ticket is available for $19.99 plus tax. For every ticket sold, $5 will be donated to Special Olympics Florida. Overnight rates are available starting at $129 per night.

For more information or to purchase tickets, guests should visit orlandopolarbearclub.com (http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-palms/special-events/kissimmee-orlando-events/ICE/polar-bear-club/pbc-details/index.htmlsource=prweb).

About ICE!

ICE!, the marquee attraction of Best of Florida Christmas, is a wildly popular family experience that combines fantastic frozen creations, thrilling ice slides, dramatic lighting and special effects. This year'ss attraction, which reflects the theme Santa'ss Arctic Blast, is presented by Coca-Cola and Walgreen'ss and sponsored by Nissan.

The ICE! attraction is carved by a team of 40 artisans from Harbin, China. Since its inception, this unique attraction has garnered national recognition from the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Southern Living, and Travel + Leisure.

ICE! is open daily during the holiday season and is accessible on the Exhibit Hall level at the Gaylord Palms Resort convention center, which is located at 6000 W. Osceola Parkway in Kissimmee.

About Gaylord Palms

Gaylord Palms Resort 's38; Convention Center has gained the attention of the meeting and convention industry by providing world-class convention and leisure-focused amenities - all in one place. The award-winning Gaylord Palms is a Gaylord Hotels-branded property owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.gaylordpalms.com or www.gaylordentertainment.com.

Media Contact:

Keith Salwoski, (407) 586-0315, ksalwoski@gaylordhotels.com

Michelle Smith, (407) 586-0308, msmith3@gaylordhotels.com

Guest Information:

Gaylord Palms Resort, (407) 586-4423, www.gaylordpalms.com/ice

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