I have been to the show several times and it is very crowded during the week as well. However, the crowds at the big displays tend to wax and wane depending on the time of day. The crowds decline during the period of about 3PM to 6PM. So if you arrive there and you can't get near the big displays, save yourself the aggravation and go look at the stuff for sale and the smaller exhibits - which are excellent, by the way. Then wait until the crowds thin out and you can better enjoy the big exhibits.

OK will do with this tour we arrive later so I think they planned it for crowd-avoidance -- I may just sit in a talk until 2pm then get my bearings.

I used to live in the Philly suburbs, and we usually went in the evenings, after work. That way you had a fighting chance of seeing what you wanted to see without stepping on someone from a tour group.

Other trivia -- I usually bring earplugs to cut down on all the white noise. For me, that doesn't prevent me from hearing people speaking directly to me, and I'm a saner kitty by the end of the evening!

Ear plugs are a great idea! Adding them to my bag!