Last updated: . This update distinguishes the family’s 2020 holiday stay from current resort dates, ticket inclusions and room-occupancy details; the visit and safety measures described remain historical. Date information added October 28, 2026.
A gifted family stay from November 2020, originally published November 29, 2020. This is our account of a two-night holiday visit to Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, in the Denver area. The Christmas activities, character experiences, prices or inclusions, opening hours, height rules and COVID measures described in the original visit belong to the 2020 season. The family memories, gifted-stay disclosure, photos and original captions remain part of that account.
The resort’s official Christmas site lists the 2026–27 season as November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027, with some activities offered for shorter periods. The current lineup differs from our 2020 visit. Check the official event FAQs and the details for each attraction before booking: tickets are purchased in advance, and operating dates, timed entry, age or height rules, re-entry and package inclusions need to be checked for your chosen activity. An overnight room does not automatically include every holiday attraction.
Marriott’s current Arapahoe Springs page describes the water park as exclusively for resort guests, with a seasonal lazy river and operating hours subject to change. Confirm access, hours, room occupancy, extra beds, dining and any equipment your children need directly with the resort. The 2020 photos and descriptions below do not confirm today’s availability or health policies.
We were kindly gifted our stay at the Gaylord of the Rockies. However, opinions expressed here are our own.
A Christmas cheer settles over my family the last couple of days after our visit to the Gaylord of the Rockies in Denver, Colorado. What fun memories we made! In case you too are seeking some extra holiday cheer this year, let me share our experience there.
Originally linked 7Wayfinders film: Unleash the Magic of Christmas at Gaylord Rockies Resort. YouTube currently labels this film private, so it may not be viewable by all readers. The family’s visit account and photos continue below.
The 2020–21 Christmas season ran from November 20, 2020 to January 3, 2021. We enjoyed the festive atmosphere during our 2020 visit.
Don’t worry about getting in your daily step count when you stay. Walking the hotel and convention center itself is magnificent! This massive resort is a destination in itself.
With many different dining options, a spa, a fitness center, and acres of outdoor space and activities, you won’t get bored during your stay!
The fitness center is more like a small recreation center with many treadmills, ellipticals, weights, and more. The hours listed for our 2020 visit were 6 am – 8 pm; check the resort for today’s schedule.
This doesn’t even touch on the amazing pool area, Arapahoe Springs. We could have gone to play at the pool the entire time we were there.
With a massive indoor and outdoor pool area, including a grill, there is plenty to wear out the kids. In the summer months, the lazy river adds even more fun. However, our five kids begged to go to the pool and were always sad to leave it.
Life jackets are readily available as well as pool towels. It’s a wonderful experience!
We stayed in a Jr Suite to fit our family of seven. Honestly, it was a bit over what’s normally allowed, but still very comfortable. We got two extra beds delivered and, within the spacious living room, the kids were very comfortable. This describes our hosted arrangement in 2020. Confirm the permitted occupancy and extra-bed options for your own room with the resort before booking; our experience is not permission to exceed a room limit.
A large dining table and a small fridge allowed us to bring some cereal to enjoy when we didn’t want to sit at the restaurant. However, all of the dining options we had were delicious!
We loved the view of the Colorado Rockies, especially when it snowed our first night and made everything more festive.
Any of my followers know, I’m a huge fan of activities. Combine that with Christmas and I’m up for anything! In fact, in a normal year, our December is so packed with Christmas activities everyone begs me to scale back.
With COVID restrictions, I’ve been so bummed out by the lack of many of our traditional activities. However, I know the Gaylord will be going on our list for the future!
Christmas at the Gaylord brings hours of fun maxed out on Christmas feel and cheer. Let’s explore some of the options.
Albeit a bit small, the ice skating rink brought us lots of fun. Boot rentals are included and sanitized after each user. The ice skating activity is available all day, so you can come back after some hot cocoa and get at it again.
None of us are expert skaters and appreciated the training “seals” to hang on to. Many were available and the toddlers sat while mom and dad pushed them around. In the typical, gorgeous Colorado sun, this was a magical experience.
Any older kids will be hard-pressed to pick any other activity as their favorite after trying snow tubing. Grab a sanitized tube, head up some steep stairs, and then be pushed off by the attendants at the top.
No awkward moments trying to get in or get going in your tube. Stairs are available and you are pushed off, once the path is clear, to zoom down the slope.
Everyone will get their energy out doing this over and over. I’d recommend coats and gloves as the temps drop dramatically at night. Also, a minimum height requirement of 40 inches kept our 3-year-old on the sidelines for this one.
Geared a bit more to the littles, this darling take on a merry-go-round is sure to delight. Jump in one of four tubes and be pulled around the snow in a circle in your tube. Grace, age 3, loved this one and could have done it all day!
I think in years past, this was a traditional Carosel. However, this was just as fun for the kids!
Set on an ice rink, pictures giant donuts you can sit in and steer. Two controllers take you forward and backward or left and right. It’s quite easy to spin in a circle!
Limited to six cars, I did this with the five kids (our 3-year-old was tall enough even if she didn’t know quite how to steer). I haven’t laughed as hard as I did on this activity in a while. It was SO FUN.
Grab a kit and search for clues! Each kits completed gets a small prize. We actually ran out of time for this and I was really bummed as it looks very fun.
Similar to a lighted holiday walk through the botanical gardens, the “Light” section of the outside activities is free to walk through at your convenience. Millions of lights will dazzle you. It was quite cold on the night we did it, so bundle up appropriately. I especially loved the gorgeous lantern section.
Fill all your breakfast fantasies with this amazing brunch. Your kids will love the Charlie Brown characters, socially distanced behind small fences. You are welcome to get pictures with them and interact from afar.
We loved the omelet bar, unlimited bacon and sausage options, and the delicious treats! The food is delicious and the staff was so friendly and helpful.
Due to Covid restrictions, we had a kid-table and an adult table next to each other (since not more than 6 can sit at one table), but we were able to get a corner of the room next to Charlie Brown.
Kid’s menus kept the kids busy while we ate and filling up for the many activities ahead was fabulous!
You can write to to big man a few different places, but this dedicated spot allows you to write to Santa and drop it in the special mailbox to get straight to the North Pole!
Located in the convention center, this little Christmas city holds a ton of fun.
Visit Nutmeg’s Nook to grab a gingerbread decorating kit, some plates, wipes, and napkins. Hit a table (socially-distanced) and enjoy decorating!
You can pick from house kits or cookie kits. Nutmeg, a dancing gingerbread man, will entertain the littles if they get bored with the decorating. Requires a timed entry.
While being socially distanced from Santa this year may bum us all out, this magical little shop with Santa still brings lots of fun to your holiday visit. Feel free to write a letter to him here also and drop in the special mailbox!
Sing along with Mrs. Claus and her elf, Snowflake, during this short presentation. Mrs. Claus reads the Night Before Christmas and you play some riddle games as a group. Requires a timed entry.
Our favorite part was the fun milk and cookie given out at the end!
A Christmas shop in Mistletoe Village offers fun ornaments, decorations, and more. Many are themed to the movies in the I Love Christmas Movies activity, so we picked up some Polar Express ornaments as well as some generic ornaments I couldn’t resist.
Warning for parents: this may be too tempting to pass up! We aren’t big fans of stuffed animals, but being able to customize your stuffed animal and pick its outfits is really fun.
Our kids spent some of their own money on these special souvenirs. The Gaylord has branded items for the stuffed animals, which is really fun!
The pinnacle of the Mistletoe Village, this pop-up, immersive experience is really amazing. Imagine being on the set of some of your favorite Christmas movies and you’ll have a good idea of this activity.
Christmas movies included are:
Walking through the sets of your favorite Christmas movies is magical! In some cases, there is also sound, music, smell or other interactive experiences inside the set. For example, at one point it “snows” from the ceiling.
You are able to buy your family photo with backgrounds from two of any of the movies. You can also get small keepsakes with your photos inside.
Amid all the experiences, our favorites included the snow tubing, the lights outside and the pool! However, everything was super fun. I loved that we didn’t have to drive anywhere to get to our activities and could rest in our room when we needed.
There are plenty of dining options at the Gaylord Rockies. Italian, steakhouse, Mexican, a bar and grill, and more. Instead of room service, you are able to do mobile ordering and take it to your room.
There are also little stores with small grocery sections, treats, drinks and more.
During our two-night stay in 2020, housekeeping staff did not enter our room. This describes the arrangements we encountered then; ask the resort about its current housekeeping service.
During that 2020 visit, masks were required in all areas of the hotel, including walking around the pool deck.
We encountered social distancing and cleaning measures throughout the hotel and activities during our 2020 visit. These observations describe that stay, rather than current requirements or a guarantee of health protection.
Overall, we had the best time visiting the Gaylord of the Rockies! The beautiful resort had so much more to offer than we expected. The Christmas experience was a step above! I loved that we were able to kick-off our Christmas season with such a magical experience.
Xoxo,
Leslie
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