Fridays usually sellout, so they are the most crowded. We have gone the past 5 years on either Sunday, Monday or Tuesday (schedule depended on the year) and they were not crowded. Last year we went on Tuesday night and it wasn't very crowded, I got tickets the same day. The past 2 years they have allowed admission as early as 4:00pm, we go there about 4:30pm last year it gives you a great jump on the party. They run the parade twice, more people see the first one so that's a great time to ride and then wait for the second parade. It's always a highlight of our trip.