Ellipse Festivities I haven't seen this in print, but after speaking with a National Park Service employee, they said that there would not be the same type of free activities (as they have had in the past) for the public on the Ellipse this Easter Monday. The outdoor Easter Egg Roll Festivities would only be on the South Lawn. There will be the Easter Egg Roll related activities (storytelling, coloring, etc.) at the White House Visitor Center during the Easter Egg South Lawn activities as the Visitor Center has had in past years.
another evening sucess story I wanted to add we had the same early day and afternoon web-crashing struggles as most posters did. We didn't give up and were fortunate enough to get 4 tickets (2 child, 2 adult) around 7:30 EDT. Obsessive Mom 'summed' up strategies for future success for tickets well. Thank you for the helpful blog thru this new ticketing process.
FRUSTRATION TURNED TO JOY My journey started out at 12 a.m. EST 3/26/09 to secure 6 tickets for my family for our 1st experience with the White House Annual Easter Egg Roll.
Like most individuals on this blog and others, my sister and I planned to spend the overnight weekend before the egg roll to get tickets. We planned the whole "camping out" excursion from before the election in November 2008. I was on the whitehouse.gov for 3 1/2 hours then finally decided to go to bed so that I could arise at least before I went to work to try again. I called my sister to let her know that she should try before she went to work as well, which was before 8 a.m. She called me around eight to say that the site had not gone live yet, she could only access the Whitehouse site. I was able in between getting dressed go on the Whitehouse site around 9 a.m. and I still could not go any further than that. It did not have any "click here," link. I got so engrossed that I continued and before I knew it, it was a little after 10 a.m. and I noticed the you could go to the new site. I immediately "click here" and the site came up. I tried to order from the main page, but ended up having to "register" because it would not let me go access the site unless I did. I immediately created an account and went to my inbox to retrieve the new password. Once I retrieved it and went directly back to the site, I enter my email and password and accessed the site, however, there was nothing to "buy" as indicated on the site. So I browsed around looking to see how you get your tickets for about 30-40 minutes. After which, the site automatically stated that I have to "check back later." I was like "whatever" at that point. So, I looked at the time and was like I am seriously late for WORK! However, because I was determined to try to get these tickets from my family I soldiered on . At this time it was about 11:15 or so and I was like I know they are not going to bring the site up because, the President was having his "e-Town-Hall" live mtg. Therefore, I tried to no avail to access the ticket site anyhow thinking that just maybe they would have it up simultaneously. NOT. Time went on ended up listing to his whole "speech and answer" session, thinking they must bring it up after he goes off the air. So once that happened low and behold NOTHING!! The now familiar phrase of, DUE TO HEAVY VOLUME .CHECK BY LATER." This happened for another 1 1/2 hours. All of which I was checking every 1 to 2 minutes (seriously). 2:20-25 p.m. site comes live again, I immediately entered email/password clicked go got to the 1st screen click the time I had wanted and click continue (red flag came up) then I had to dropdown menu that it was the 6 tickets that I wanted(even though it already said that). Click continue as fast I could, came to the scramble security code screen read/typed as fast as I could clicked continue again, came to the 3rd screen for deliver confirmation clicked continue got to the 4th and final screen check the "I attest this is true" box, and hit as fast as I could the enter button to purchase! Well, I was literally screaming at this point because I hit the purchase and it was "processing." So I was like "I am home free!" NOT NOT NOT the screen timed out several times and then some. I had to hit the back button at least 10 times, and then it took me to the "holding room." Which I was there for at least 40 minutes (NO JOKE). I was like, "NO WAY!" This is not happening, however, it was. Make long story short. I hit the back button and the initial ordering screen came up with my initial order for 6 tickets and the time. So I was like, "great." At least I still might have a chance to get them because technically, I was stilled "logged in." My sister called me and said the site is not even coming up on her end she was getting a "No website found" message. I told her where I was at in the ballgame. She was like, "just hang in there." Well after 2 1/2 hours it automatically kicked me out of the system, which immediately after, most of us know the statement, "CHECK BACK LATER!" That went on for approximately, (NO KIDDING) 31/2 hours. However, during that time (YES, I Stayed home). I was constantly, literally, constantly in my address bar going to 09whegg com. Until 7:22 p.m. I kid you not; my fingers were constantly clicking on that site the whole time. And every now and again, I would open a new window to Google "white house egg roll 2009 online problems," for I knew I could not be the only one FRUSTRATED. Walla..I found this site. Read a few comments and then got back to clicking away because I didn’t want to come so far knowing the hour was getting late in the evening and the probably would come up at any moment. Well they did and I immediately signed on (because by this time VERY familiar w/the process), clicking away as fast as my little fingers would go praying all the way and my little girl went in her room (unbeknownst to me, until later) and prayed also. I went from step 1 to 4 in about 30 second (NO KIDDING) and immediately after pressing "purchase" my CONFIRMATION NUMBER CAME UP!!! YES YES YES, I thanked the Lord literally, yelled, screamed, jumped with happiness and frustration and was relived that my journey ended with JOY!
cant get tickets Its a shame we didnt know about this earlier. I would rather have stood on line like I did last year for two days knowing I was getting tickets instead of wasting all this time for nothing .Thank you all for your input.
My Strategies (cont) (Whoops, site owner, you're welcome to combine these messages --I hit enter by accident)
I proceeded to do this nonstop, until I got into the site at about 2:30 p.m. EDT when another block of tickets were released. At this time, I began the ordering process, but the website sent an error message, and I had to begin at least two more times. By that point, I still had access to the ticket site, but the tickets were gone. I proceeded to click 7X/minute for the rest of the afternoon. Actually, I had to pick up my kids, and go to various lessons, so I paid my babysitter to come click for me during this time. I figured it was worth $10/hour since the tickets are free if you can get them. I told her to bring her IPOD. (While I was clicking, I listened to books on tape. It was much more pleasant.) She began clicking and continued while I was out. At the third release, she got into the site and was able to get tickets. Needless to say, we were thrilled. I really believe that only the very, very lucky or those who click nonstop will get tickets. Here are a few additional strategies:
1) When you get to the ordering site after hours of clicking, don't freak out. We both felt this impulse, btw. It's a lime green screen.
2) Every second counts when tickets go live. Don't waste them.
3) The first click on the ordering site is a time choice. If you know you want to go in the morning, click one of the first two quickly. If you want to go in the afternoon, click on one of the last two sites quickly.
4) Then the site asks you how many tickets for adults and children you want. EX: one adult, one child all the way to two adults, four children. Scan this as quickly as possible, click in the button, be sure to fill the number in midway through the line, and then hit the buy button. The tickets are free, but you have to hit buy anyway. Hit it as fast as you can.
5) Proceed as quickly as you can. Don't bother with quick checkout, just go ahead with the registration. I tried to get an account when I accessed the site at 2:30 EDT, but no password was mailed to me, so I don't think this is a working feature.
6) Presto! You should have tickets.
If it doesn't work, go back as quickly as you can, and choose a different time. I also learned that if a time frame says that there are not enough tickets available for that slot, there are fewer tickets that what you requested, but there a still 1-5 available. You can choose a lower number if it works for you and possibly get them. But I'd try for a different time first.
Last few hints: if you access the site but don't get tickets, you may be able to keep it up on your screen on the "time request" page. If you can, keep that window open and unused and begin your clicking in a different window. If the site goes live, access it in your click window, but also change quickly to your "time request" screen and hit the button. Use both at once. A related strategy: as soon as you get into the site and as you're waiting for it to load, load it in a different window that you have ready. This will help if the site has an error message as it did for me this morning. Both of these suggestions assume you have good internet access.
Last hint: at least if what they did today is how they will operate tonight and tomorrow, after they do a ticket release, you will have at least 2-3 hours before another one. I wouldn't give up clicking, but you can take a very quick break during that time to start dishwasher, put laundry in the dryer, have lunch, etc.
Good luck!
At least it's finally over! I feel so fortunate to have gotten tix for my family of 5. I started at 12am checking the site, and got ours right at 8am. However, I spent all day (literally 12 hours!) trying to get 2 tix for my mother and my niece. I really thought I would get them, but no luck. I feel so bad...they are so disappointed- as I'm sure many, many of you are. So, mixed feelings for me.
My Strategies Dear Fellow Ticket Seekers, We spent all day today clicking for tickets. We got some at the last release. I thought I'd tell you about our experience in case it helps you.
I believe tickets have been released three times today, around 11 or 11:30 a.m. EDT, 2:30 EDT, and 7:30 EDT. (We are actually in MDT.) I checked the site first thing this morning, and checked back several times before I went to exercise but there was no "click here" line on the site yet. Sometime during that hour, the site went live, and the first tickets were distributed. When I returned from exercising, I was very unhappy that I missed the first round, but I began clicking nonstop: Hit the "click here" on the White House Site, hit the http link, get the not available screen, and hit the return arrow to get back to the White House. Repeat process. I found that I can do this about seven times a minute.
response cant get tickets I dont really get this. My wife has been on since 1am this morning and I took over at 8am this morning and now it's 8:10pm and there's no more tickets. How did anyone manager to get one ticket on this crazy web site. We have been on this site for 21 Hrs and couldnt get past confirming a time. There's has to be more to this. Maybe there will be another load of tickets like the did last year when people had to get on line the following day....So much for change!!!!
No more tickets available It sure has been an EXTREME day of frustration in our home. And, to no avail, we are ticketless. Upon another try moments ago we received a message that there are no more tickets available for the 2009 egg roll. UUGGHH.. I've been trying like so many since 12:00 am to secure tickets for our darling children. I have written a professional, but indeed frustrated email to the White House and encourage you to join me - When you exit the White House page to the egg roll page the box that pops up gives you an opportunity to make a comment. This is where I sent my email from. Congratulations to those who made it through and secured tickets. Thank you for all the great information on this blog. It rocks!
I finally got tickets at about 7:35. I'm bleary and crossed eyed right now and I'm going to bed. I'll update my blog tomorrow.
Lots of comments from readers that the tix are sold out now. I haven't seen that message myself. If I go back to the website it says try again later. Good luck to everyone still looking.
Father and son outing. I cannot believe they are all out of tickets, I was looking forward to this all year. I only need two tickets, for me and my son. If anyone out there has two tickets to spare please e-mail me at lterrellwilliams@gmail.com. I have faith that I will get two tickets from someone. :)
Tickets gone Well it is 7:55 pm and I checked for the last time only to see the message that the tickets had been distributed and no more were available.
I think that's it I just checked again and finally a new page, only to tell me they are all out! Sorry guys I thinks that's-Congrats to those of you who were able to get tickets-I guess we'll try again next year!
Never mind - now they're all gone I got tickets and immediately tried again for my good friend and neighbor and by the time I clicked refresh, they were all gone. I'm glad I got tickets but I am so sad and disappointed at the process and the fact that so many people were left out. I'm especially upset that they are already on sale on ebay and craig's list. Don't bother with that though because you can easily get scammed.
I finally got tickets 7:36 pm eastern time I have been at it all day and had all of the same problems but I just got in out of the blue. Keep trying people!
loved your commet!! It's me again and I agree-----I wish they would tell us if there is no hope!!!! It would have been fun to be in a line with everyone and talk to people face to face. By the way, right now I am listening to cranky kids because I have spent way to long on the computer and have been a bad mother today. Can anyone relate?
I'd rather stand in line The Internet distribution was too frustrating and time consuming. At least when you stood in line, chances were, you got some tickets to the White House Easter Egg Roll. Back to basics?
I would not assume that activities on the Ellipse will be open to the public this year. They have been in the past, but if there's anything this year has shown us, it's all bets are off. Keep watching for more info from the White House.
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Ellipse Festivities
I haven't seen this in print, but after speaking with a National Park Service employee, they said that there would not be the same type of free activities (as they have had in the past) for the public on the Ellipse this Easter Monday. The outdoor Easter Egg Roll Festivities would only be on the South Lawn. There will be the Easter Egg Roll related activities (storytelling, coloring, etc.) at the White House Visitor Center during the Easter Egg South Lawn activities as the Visitor Center has had in past years.