We have gone the last two weeks of October for the past 3 years and have noticed the same. The crowds just keep growing and growing. In much of England they are on Holiday I believe between the 23rd of October and the 2nd of November. I mention this because almost everyone we talk to on the buses, in lines, and in the pools are from England. Our schools here in Colorado have always had fall break the last week of October (well, for at least the last 12 years) but many other schools in the region now have the same. We've never done
MNSSHP so we can't comment as to how the crowds have grown year to year there. I would agree that the weather is generally very nice but the lines for the popular attractions just plain stink

If we could go at another time during the year when the crowds are lighter, for instance January, we would. But for now, while our kids are still in school, we will continue to go at the end of October during their break and we'll just have to remember to pack our patience hat!