Hey guys!
If you’re looking for one of the best Christmas experiences in Nashville, Gaylord Opryland Resort should be on your list.
Every holiday season, the resort transforms into a winter wonderland filled with millions of twinkling lights, elaborate decorations, festive activities, and plenty of opportunities to make lasting memories.
My husband and I spent our anniversary weekend here in December, and it quickly reminded us why we keep coming back.
Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or simply looking for festive things to do in Nashville, here’s what you can expect when visiting Gaylord Opryland during the Christmas season.
Click here for everything you need to know about your stay
Parking at the Gaylord Opryland Resort
First let’s talk about the parking at Opryland Resort.
Guests have two options for parking when staying at the resort: self-parking and valet parking.
Self parking is available right past the resort’s main entrance and currently costs approximately $37 per day (with in-and-out privileges for registered hotel guests).
Valet parking is available at the resort’s main entrance and currently costs approximately $55 per day plus tips. When using valet parking, it can be a hassle when you are staying more than one night and want to leave the hotel.
Tip: Day guests dining at sit-down restaurants or visiting the spa can receive parking validation.
Keep in mind that because Opryland is a massive convention center, the valet line can get heavily backed up on holidays, weekends, and during major events. Give yourself an extra 15 to 20 minutes of cushion if you have a scheduled show, dinner reservation, or flight to catch.
Tip: Day visitors can click here to prepay for parking before you arrive to save more time and money.
If you are staying overnight, use the Marriott Bonvoy App (or the property’s text service) to request your car 20–30 minutes before you need it. This dramatically cuts down on your wait time at the main desk.
I love their app as you can use it to check into your room, unlock your room door, chat directly with the staff, book hotel rooms, earn reward points to used for future stays and more!
Tip: Some people will park at the nearby Opry Mills Shopping Center for free and walk to the hotel. Read more here and watch a YouTube video about it here & here
Checking in at the Gaylord Opryland Resort
After getting parked, you will head to the lobby at the resort’s main entrance.
The lines can be long but typically move pretty quickly.
We have arrived 2-3 hours prior to our check in time before and they have let us check in but it really depends on how busy they are.
If you arrive early and want to walk around the hotel or have breakfast or lunch, you can have the hotel store your luggage. There is a designated “luggage stand” just for this purpose.
When I made our reservation online, it asked me if we would be celebrating a special occasion so I let them know that it was our anniversary.
During check in, the guest services employee handed us a gift bag full of goodies for our anniversary!
Here are some tips for having a seamless check in experience:
- If you are a Marriott Bonvoy member, use the designated line, which can save significant time compared to the general line.
- Download the Marriot Bonvoy App and check into your room when it is ready and use the app to unlock your room door.
- Drop off your luggage and check into your room at check in time which is 4:00 pm
- The main lobby can be crowded around 4 PM. Many guests have success checking in as early as 1:30 PM (subject to availability) or in the evening to avoid the rush.
- Click here for 9 tips for a successful stay at the Gaylord Opryland Resort
Our Room at Gaylord Opryland Resort
As I mentioned earlier, we have stayed at the resort a few times and we always request a room with a balcony that overlooks one of the 3 atriums.
- Delta Atrium – the largest and most famous. It features the indoor river, flatboat river rides, waterfalls, tropical plants, and the New Orleans style atmosphere. It’s about 4.5 acres by itself. It is closest to the convention center and shopping, making it convenient but potentially noisy.
- Cascades Atrium – known for its soaring ceilings, twin waterfalls, and lush tropical landscaping. This atrium is best for live music and waterfall views, though it is the busiest and loudest area.
- Garden Conservatory – the original atrium, designed like a Victorian conservatory with thousands of plants and seasonal displays. The best choice for a quiet, romantic, and scenic experience.
We stayed in room D3136 which had a view of the Delta Atrium.
Tip: I alway take a picture of our room number so I don’t forget.
I honestly wasn’t a big fan of this atrium as it was very busy and noisy so I recommend going with the Garden conservatory if you are looking for something a bit more peaceful.
Tip: If your room number starts with a D, it means you will have a view of the Delta atrium. The next number tells you what floor you will be on…in our case, we were on the third floor in room 136. If your room number starts with a C, it’s the Cascades atrium and G is the garden conservatory.
You can request which atrium you would like when you book your room however, there is no guarantee that you will get that room. It depends on availability.
These rooms are highly recommended for the best experience, offering views of indoor waterfalls, rivers, and tropical gardens.
However, they can also be noisy as you will see and hear lots of people walking below your balcony so always try to choose a room on a higher floor or if you don’t like noise, choose an exterior room.
Tip: Avoid ground floor rooms as these often feature patios that are behind plants, resulting in lower privacy and obstructed views.
Our room had two queen beds, a nice size bathroom, chairs and a small table, coffee pot (hidden in the cabinet below the TV), and a small refrigerator.
Tip: Some rooms come with a small refrigerator while others only come with a beverage cooler and none of the rooms have microwaves.. You can click here to watch a YouTube video that showcases a room on the 5th floor.
Honestly, for what you pay, the rooms are nothing special but it’s the hotel itself that makes it worth the price.
Click here for package specials & discounts….if you are a Tennessee resident, they have a special just for you!
Tips for Navigating Gaylord Opryland Resort
Opryland Resort is huge so be prepared to do a lot of walking and wear comfortable shoes!
With three massive atriums, multiple restaurants, shops, a convention center, a spa, an indoor pool area, and over 2,800 rooms, it’s easy to get turned around!
My biggest tip would be to grab a resort map when you check in or download the resort’s app. The app includes a digital map with turn-by-turn directions and live info on events, dining hours, and more.
There are almost 2 miles of walking paths located inside the resort but I can promise you this, you will walk a lot more than 2 miles!
Christmas Lights and Holiday Decorations
If you are visiting during the Christmas season, make sure to allow yourself time to walk between attractions.
The holiday decorations throughout the atriums are part of the experience, and you will likely find yourself stopping frequently for pictures!
The resort goes all out during Christmas so you will want to make sure you check the app for all the events that are held during this time of year.
Make sure to explore the resort during both the day and evening…the lighting looks completely different at night.
The resort transforms into a winter wonderland during the Christmas holidays.
There are millions of twinkling lights inside every atrium and on the outside as well.
You will find towering Christmas trees, garland, wreaths, and festive displays around every corner.
One of the main highlights is the enormous Christmas tree in the Delta Atrium …the tree stands several stories tall and is the focal point of the atrium.
I loved this beautiful poinsettia tree!
Click here & here to see a list of events that the hotel has during the Christmas season…they offer carriage rides, gingerbread house decorating kits, breakfast with characters, ice skating, and so much more!
Restaurants at Gaylord Opryland Resort
One of the things that makes Opryland Resort unique is that it’s more than just a hotel.
It offers numerous restaurants, bars, coffee shops, snack locations, and dessert shops.
You could easily spend an entire weekend at the resort without ever leaving the property.
There are over 11 restaurants inside the hotel and one of those restaurants we have eaten at 2-3 times now and I highly recommend it!
It’s called the Old Hickory Steakhouse.
Before we arrived, I had made reservations for dinner. Since we were celebrating our anniversary, we wanted to enjoy a nice dinner at the hotel.
I highly recommend that you make reservations for any of the nicer restaurants as they stay very busy….especially during the holidays.
After arriving to the restaurant, we were seated a few minutes later.
We took a few minutes to look over the menu.
Obviously, with this being a steakhouse, their specialty is steak and they offer lots of different cuts.
The sides are huge so only order one for the two of you…..we even had leftovers!
Be sure to try their fresh baked bread with the honey drizzled over the top…it is out of this world!
After finishing our meal, the restaurant offered us a free dessert for our anniversary and it was delicious!
So, if you are celebrating something special be sure to mention that in your reservation.
This place is expensive so keep that in mind when making a reservation. We have only eaten here for special occasions as we typically don’t spend this much on eating out!
Read reviews for this restaurant here
We have also eaten at Jack Daniel’s restaurant and it was very good too.
The resort also offers room service too… You can order right from their app.
If you’re not interested in the restaurants at the hotel, there are over 20 restaurants located inside the Opry Mills shopping center that sits next door to the resort. Paula Deen’s restaurant is also located just a short walk from the hotel.
Tip: If you’re not in the mood for hotel dining prices, grab a snack and enjoy it while wandering the atriums. The seating is comfy, and the people watching is top notch. There’s Auntie Anne’s pretzels, burgers, stores with tons of snack options, ice cream, baked goods, and so much more!
Shopping at Gaylord Opryland
If you enjoy shopping well fear not, the resort offers lots of options to choose from.
Most people think it’s just a hotel, but it feels more like a small indoor village with boutiques, gift shops, snack markets, and specialty stores spread throughout the resort.
Some of the shops you will have to choose from are:
- Swarovski – crystal jewelry, gifts and collectibles.
- Cowboys & Angels – western inspired clothing ,boots, apparel, and Nashville souvenirs
- Delta Marketplace – snacks, drinks, and travel essentials
- The Signature Store – exclusive brands such as Vineyard Vines, Under Armour, and Toes on the Nose for SoundWaves and other logo items including resort wear, golf attire, beach towels, totes, and souvenirs.
- SoundWaves Store – here you’ll find necessities for a fun day in the sun and water – from sunscreen, beach towels, souvenir water bottles and sunglasses to swimwear, cover-ups, hats and sandals.
- Various resort gift shops selling Christmas ornaments, Opryland merchandise, home decor, toys, apparel, and souvenirs.
If those aren’t enough to keep you busy, you can walk over to the enormous Opry Mills mall!
Opry Mills is Tennessee’s largest outlet mall and is located right next door to the Opryland Resort.
The mall has more than 200 stores and approximately 20 restaurants such as the Cheesecake Factory, Aquarium Restaurant, Chuy’s, Mission BBQ, Johnny Rockets and the Bavarian Bierhaus. There’s also a huge theater at the mall.
You can also click here for the most popular restaurants in Nashville
Fun Fact: The mall is located where the Opryland Theme Park used to be…the theme park opened in 1972 and sadly closed in 1997 ..the owners sold the land to developers who demolished the park and opened the Opry Mills mall in 2000.
Things to Do at Gaylord Opryland During Christmas
Christmas is one of the most magical times to visit Gaylord Opryland Resort.
From mid November through early January, the entire property transforms into a winter wonderland filled with millions of twinkling lights, festive decorations, holiday activities, and family friendly entertainment.
You really never have to leave the resort…..there’s so much to see and do!
Of course, one of our favorite parts of staying at Opryland during Christmas was simply walking through the atriums and taking in all of the Christmas decorations.
But there’s so much more to do than just seeing the lights.
Here are the most popular things to do during the Christmas holidays:
- Visit Snow Flow Mountain – brings outdoor winter fun to the resort with activities such as tubing and other family friendly attractions.
- Watch the Resort Fountain Shows – several times throughout the day the Delta atrium comes alive with synchronized fountain shows featuring music, lights and dancing water.
- Enjoy the Christmas shopping – lots of Christmas booths & shops set up just for the holidays
- Ride the Delta River Flatboat – take a relaxing ride through the resort’s beautiful Delta atrium to see the gardens, Christmas decorations, waterfalls, and more.
- Explore the Christmas decorations on the inside and the outside – the resort puts up more than 5 million Christmas lights throughout the resort
- Take a horse carriage ride – enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride through the beautifully decorated resort grounds while taking in the festive lights and decorations. Don’t miss the incredible nativity scene!
- Decorate a gingerbread house – guests can purchase a gingerbread house kit and spend time creating their own masterpiece. It’s a fun family activity.
- Take pictures with Santa – guests have the opportunity to visit with Santa and take professional photos. Reservations are recommended since this is so popular.
- Go ice skating – the resort offers an outdoor skating rink during its Christmas celebration…it’s fun way to embrace the holiday spirit.
- ICE (I will make this it’s on separate post)
- Enjoy a Character breakfast – you can start your day with a special holiday breakfast featuring beloved Christmas characters.
- Watch the tree lighting ceremony – throughout the holiday season, guests can gather to watch the resort’s spectacular tree lighting ceremony. The event features music, holiday entertainment, and much more.
- The new POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance show – a holiday cirque show inside the hotel during Christmas
Tip: Many of these activities require separate tickets or advance reservations, especially on weekends and the week leading up to Christmas, so it’s worth booking early if you’re planning a holiday visit.
Besides holiday themed activities, the resort also offers a spa, an incredible pool area, a scavenger hunt, an arcade, a gym, the Delta Riverboat and much more.
Tip: The only guaranteed way to experience the water attraction at the hotel called, Soundwaves, is by purchasing the Soundwaves package. You can not use the pool area without purchasing this package. However, if you don’t want to pay for the 4 acre, upscale pool area, the resort also offers both an indoor and outdoor Cascades pool that are available to guests.
ICE! at Gaylord Opryland: What to Expect
I had to talk about ICE on its own because it’s such a popular attraction at Opryland during the Christmas holiday season.
We have experienced ICE several times now and we never get tired of seeing it!
You can book online, book when you check in at the hotel, or book on the hotel’s app.
There are also lots of signs scattered throughout the resort advertising the many activities that are available and you can scan the QR code on the sign and book any activity you would like.
You will need to arrive approximately 15 mins prior to your check in time and give yourself plenty of time to walk from the resort over to the ICE exhibit since it’s in a separate building.
Inside the building where you check in for the ICE exhibit, is a gift shop with lots of gorgeous Christmas ornaments, decorations, home decor, and more.
You can also purchase some delicious hot chocolate before or after your visit…..I recommend waiting until after because you will get very cold in this exhibit!
Please, if you don’t listen to anything else I have said in this post, DRESS WARM!
The exhibit is 9 degrees and you won’t be able to stand it if you’re not prepared!
I’m talking about hat, gloves, scarves, thick socks, under armor, warm jacket, etc. The jacket that you are provided at the exhibit will not be enough to keep you warm!
The Opryland Resort has been featuring the ICE exhibit now for several years and like I said, it’s one of the most popular activities at the hotel.
When we were there, they were featuring, A Charlie Brown Christmas ICE experience.
After you arrive, you will see a screen that shows the reservations time they are allowing to enter the exhibit….so, you can head to the entrance when you see your time show up.
The ICE exhibit is built using more than 2 million pounds of ice and features colorful scenes, tunnels, archways, and larger than life characters illuminated with vibrant lighting.
You will walk through a series of themed rooms that tell the story as you move from scene to scene.
Around 40 artisans spend weeks carving thousands of blocks of ice into intricate sculptures, some using chainsaws and speciality tools to create incredibly detailed scenes.
One of our favorite parts about the exhibit was seeing the incredible detail carved into each sculpture.
Everything from the character’s facial expressions to the smallest decorative elements had been carved from ice.
Throughout the exhibit, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to stop for photos.
Don’t miss sliding down the giant ice slides…they are a highlight for both kids and adults!
The exhibit isn’t particularly long, but there’s so much to see that it’s worth taking your time.
The nativity scene at the end of the exhibit is breathtaking!
Between the frozen scenes, interactive elements, and larger than life sculptures, ICE is one of the most unique Christmas experiences at Gaylord Opryland!
Checking out of the Opryland Resort
The check out process at the hotel is very simple…you can check out right on hotel’s app.
Before we checked out at 11:00 am,, we wanted to go down to the Cascades Cafe to have breakfast.
Click here to read about all the important information you will need to know during your stay
The restaurant doesn’t take reservations so I would recommend you get there early as it can get very crowded.
For breakfast, the cafe only offers buffet style dining.
Click here to see their menu
The buffet has everything you can imagine!
I’ve never seen a breakfast buffet like this one!
And you will definitely be paying top dollar for it too!
Read reviews for the restaurant here & Click here to read reviews on the resort
Tip: If you have an event booked or just want to spend more time at the hotel after you check out, just have the hotel hold your luggage. However, your parking is based on 24 hrs so, you will pay for another day if you go over the 24 hrs.
After breakfast, we headed home.
Tip: If you chose valet parking, I would recommend you use the hotel’s app to request your vehicle before going to the entrance because it stays very busy during the holidays and you can wait up to 30 mins or more for your vehicle!
Is Gaylord Opryland Worth It?
Yes, if you want a resort experience and especially if you’re visiting during Christmas.
The hotel is expensive, but the holiday decorations, ICE, atriums, restaurants, and activities make it a memorable destination.
Book early and don’t forget to look for discounts and package deals!
Allow plenty of time to explore the hotel because the resort is much larger than people expect.
Click on the links below to read about our other stays at the Opryland Resort
A Weekend at the Opryland Hotel – Nashville, TN – July 2025
A Night at the Opryland Hotel – Dec 2023
Click here to see links to all of my blog posts
