Lowering water in vinyl lined inground

Well it closing time again in Central NJ. Had a question for the group to get some opinions.

Anyone lower the water line below the skimmer and returns? What about removing the light?

My pool company who has closed my pool for years has never blown out any of the lines (with the exception of the heater) ............. they just leave the pool full and all valves in the open position.

I would like to try to close myself this year and will try to blow out the lines, but not sure if it is necessary or even how to proceed. Can it be done with the pool full or does the water need to be lowered? Also anyone try closing without blowing out the lines .............. it does get cold here, freezing and below for the winter months.

Blowing the lines...depends on the depth of the lines. If above the frost line then they have to be dry or they will probably burst when they freeze. Horizontal pipes are prone to bursting because you can get localized freezing and ice plugs, then the water between them freezes and with nowhere to go, the pipe breaks. Just maybe, your return pipes are angled downward so you could get an ice plug at the top but at a lower level the pipe is open and the water will progressively freeze and always have room to expand.
Al