We went to the Empire State Building on a random TH night thinking it wouldn't be very crowded...WRONG! We took an Uber from our hotel near Times Square and grabbed some pizza on the way. It was a little confusing to get into the building, but once inside the staff were great in helping navigate it. THEY were super friendly and a welcome change from the rudeness we had encountered all week in the city. They directed us, explained the building and even joked around with us. The top of the building was EXTREMELY crowded and while the views were stunning, the crowds took away from the overall experience. They should not have tours for large groups of school kids, or any other group at the same time as the general public...I questioned the safety of that many people at once. Oh, and be prepared to wait in long lines for the elevators and even the stairs. It was fun, the staff were awesome, but the crowds were a buzz kill.