We were there on Saturday, October 15th and the crowds really were bad right at lunch time and then leveled down during the later afternoon about the nighttime was bad, bad, bad. My husband remarked it wasn't even that crowded on Thanksgiving or any other holiday we've been there. Plus, there are some people who have been "enjoying" the Festival all day long and, well, it's get a bit out of hand for those who don't know when to say when. Next year, we're going during the week.