Apple’s newest iPad hit stores around the world this morning, drawing huge crowds to Apple’s retail stores. Unlike last time, however, Apple seems to have had plenty of stock to meet demand. As expected, Apple opened their retal stores an hour earlier than usual to accommodate the launch. After the initial crowds thinned out, though, many stores still had stock left over.

The Apple Store in Lexington, Kentucky’s Fayette Mall, for example, had plenty of iPads left long after the initial rush had subsided. Within half an hour of opening at 8, the store looked like this:

A store associate told me that while she did not know how many iPads they had received, they still had plenty left in stock. I asked the store manager how many he received, but he (very politely) declined to answer on the grounds that he was not allowed to give those details to the press.

Of course, Apple’s retail stores aren’t the only place to get iPads. Several of Apple’s other retail partners – including Best Buy, as CEO Brian Dunn pointed out on Twitter this morning:

You can also get 4G iPads at AT&T and Verizon retail stores.

Plenty of other retailers are working to cash in on the new iPad’s launch. GameStop broadened its product lineup a few months ago and started selling used iOS devices, including iPads. Of course, many people are looking to sell their old iPad to pay for their new one. Knowing that, GameStop is making every effort to make sure people know they can sell their old iPad at their local GameStop on their way to pick up a new iPad from the Apple Store. I spotted this man standing alongside a busy street near the mall where the Lexington, Kentucky Apple Store is located.

Kinda makes you grateful for your job, doesn’t it?

With supply apparently ahead of demand (for the moment, anyway), it looks like a brick-and-mortar retail store is the best place to get your new iPad today. While crowds dwindle at Apple’s retail stores, their online store is still showing shipping dates of 2-3 weeks. The in-store supplies aren’t going to last forever, though. So if you want an iPad today, the best thing to do is get out to your local Apple Store as soon as possible.

Were you one of the people standing in line this morning? Did you pre-order your new iPad? Or are you going to wait and upgrade after demand dies down a little? Let us know in the comments.

Lead Image Credit: Digital Trends.