Can Mesh/WDS wlan services help support more endpoint wireless devices

I have a few locations that occasionally have several hundred more endpoint devices that appear during events.  These locations are mostly open spaces (cafeterias, gymnasiums) and already have 4-5 APs installed.  Will installing more APs with a Mesh/WDS WLAN help things (lack of wire drops to add more directly connected to the switch) or hinder things.  My inclination is that it will not help things because it will be more channel traffic where there is already an established channel plan, and it will be more stress on the existing APs to pass traffic to the Mesh or WDS WLAN.  I would just like to verify this with the community.