It isn’t that bad – but, go with a friend if you do the early AM stuff. That way you or the friend could get in line to check out, when you see it starting to get long while the other still shops. Then switch. By the time you make it to the front of the line, you both have all your shopping done. Also, if you go the last hour or so of the ‘morning specials’ there are no lines and the prices are still in force – not everything may be there, but you don’t have the pushing & shoving you would of had earlier.
Also, the not as good specials for the black friday ads… the ones that are good for the weekend or that day… if you go later in the day – like 6 or 7P or on Saturday evening, the traffic and crowds are not bad at all.