This story first appeared as part of the Florida on a Tankful Holiday Spectacular.

Welcome to Florida's walk-in freezer.

"There is nowhere else in Florida you go that is 9 degrees," said Niko Nickolaou, the entertainment manager at the Gaylord Palms.

Inside the tent with sub-freezing temperatures, it's so cold that even the forklift tires squeak as if the floor at the Gaylord Palms was made of snow.

"It kinda gets you right here," Nickolaou said, as he pointed to his cheeks.

Your ears, your nose, your fingers and your toes are about to receive an Arctic blast.

"Don't wear sandals," Nickolaou said.

Before venturing inside ICE, you need the right gear. Fortunately, Gaylord Palms has a parka for each visitor.

"We know most Floridians don't own a winter coat," Nickolaou said.

Blocks of ice scoot along as hints appear who this exhibit is dedicated to. Both the ice on the wall and lights on the floor feature a yellow background and black zig-zag stripe.

"It takes you through that classic story that is cross generational," Nickolaou said.

The ICE story in 2016 is "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Even the disheveled Charlie Brown Christmas tree is here, accompanied by 2 million pounds of ice.

The gang is all here, too: Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Sally and Charlie Brown, along with strict rules on how the characters are sculpted.

"Currently, they are in deep carve mode," Nickolaou said of the 40 artisans from Harbin, China, who are on site each autumn carving, scraping and building.

They use clear, cloudy and colored ice.

One frigid area will be home to ice slides. Other clear blocks will soon become members of the Nativity.

And then, there's what's hiding around the corner. For the hardiest of souls, there is an ice bar. Nickolaou said warm beverages won't be served here. Instead, it's a special cold beverage that may internally warm you up.

ICE runs for six weeks before the carved figures melt like Frosty.

"It does not go in the pool," Nickolaou  said. "We start lowering the chillers down so it's not 9 degrees."

The closing process begins January 2.

Added Nickolaou: "It's 30 degrees, it's 40 degrees, and they start dismantling it."

The cool memories of ICE will linger long after the holidays.

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Scott Fais joins Travel Monthly
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