During An Old Time Christmas:
Crowds are the lightest on the first week. Crowds get bigger every week. I hear that the crowds get light again after Christmas. Remember, the crowds are also the lightest Sunday thru Thursday, followed by Friday, and Saturdays are always the busiest days of the week. This last crowd rule applies all year round.
If you want more info on crowd levels, crowd predictions, and other stuff, I recommend using
www.queue-times.com.
The Frisco Silver Dollar Line turns into the Frisco Sing Along Steam Train. Lights are added along the tracks and the train robbery is replaced with Grandpa telling his story. Because of this, the hours have to be changed. On Saturdays, the train does it's first ride at either 2 PM or 3 PM. All other days, the train does it's first ride at 4 PM. The station opens 30 minutes before the first ride. The test run starts 45 to 75 minutes before the first ride. This is when they pull out the poles to make a long line. Overflow follows the train tracks toward Midtown. They will start the second train by 6 PM, unless the crowds are super light. If they start another and don't get enough riders, they will put one away by 8 PM.
Certain other rides may go into An Old Time Christmas mode too. Outdoor coasters are different and are twice as good in the pitch black darkness. If you thought your favorite ride couldn't get any better....THINK AGAIN!!!
Dickens' A Christmas Carol gets a long line immediately after chain drop. It is always in Opera House. Whatever show is in Red Gold Heritage Hall also gets a long line after chain drop, but not as long or as quick as Opera House. I don't know which show will be in there this year because of how they had to change shows recently.
Tinker's Toy Factory is in Boatworks Theater. Living Nativity should be in Riverfront Playhouse, if not Dockside.
The parade is twice every night along the snowflake path. It starts in Red Gold, goes straight up Valley Road, across Main Street, down Hugo's Hill Street, and ending behind Opera House.
The tree lighting is on Main Street. It is more than just the tree. It is ALL OF MAIN STREET!!! The buildings, all the trees, lights overhead. EVERYTHING! It starts everyday at 5:30 PM and continues playing every 15 minutes until close. Either the first Saturday or everyday during the first week, this time is pushed back to 6 PM or 6:30 PM because the sun does not set early enough yet.
Christmas in Midtown is lights all over midtown, tunnels, lights that slowly turn, etc.
All water rides and water fountains are closed and turned off. All water bottle filling stations are either removed or turned off. Even the old ones that used to stay on because they are built into the rocks are turned off, if you can find any left... If you see Mystic River Falls still running the first 2 weeks, it is NOT open! It may take it a while to turn off, otherwise they just want to work the bugs out and repair it in time for next year. You will have to ask a concession stand for free water.
Themed food and drinks are sold around the park, especially on Main Street.
Discounted Season Passes for SDC and White Water next year are probably going to be sold in the Midtown Guest Relations. This is also where you pick up your ornaments, if you visited 5 different festivals.
Santa will be hanging out probably in Carousel Barn.
Certain other areas will also be closed, but most of these have to do with water rides or some type of a "long route". Echo Hollow will also be closed, so no shows will be there.
There will be family photo ops. One includes a gingerbread man family in front of Riverblast.
Rides start closing at 40°F. At 32°F, most rides will be closed. If it rains very little, these temps will be increased on some rides. I'm not sure if the list is still online. All other weather guidelines still apply too.
The weather gets colder, the closer it gets to New Years. That means more closed rides.
Park hours are Noon to 10 PM every Saturday and Black Friday. All other days are 1PM to 9 PM. Thanksgiving is 4 PM to 9 PM (maybe 10 PM). Closed Christmas, Christmas Eve, and New Years Eve. December 30 is the LAST DAY! First day is the first Saturday in November.
The turnstiles open earlier than 1 hour before chain drop. Can't remember how early, though.
I think we are at 6 Million lights now, across the park.
Plus other themed sound effects, decorations, etc all around the park.