White House Moves Easter Egg Roll Tickets Online
DCist notes that the White House has decided to pass out tickets to its Easter Egg Roll online. Why is this news? Oh yeah, people give a shit and used to wait in line like all night for the chance to celebrate Easter on the White House lawn. DCist writes:
"A press release from the White House cited a desire for "more children and families from across the United States (to) have the opportunity to experience this event" as a reason for the ticketing change."
Does the White House honestly think people will travel from all over the country just to "experience this event?" Who the hell has the money? It looks like those novelty eggs don't fetch too much on eBay. A George and Laura collectible from 2003 is currently bidding at $16.50. That's like less than a dinner for two at Applebee's.
Then again this egg rolling thing has been around a long time. I'm sure half the tickets will end up on Craigslist.
11:07 pm
For all the families that the sleep out... thanks for killing that tradition... the sleep out for the tickets was also a tradition! What about all the people who waited in line with friends to get tickets with the same entrance time? And why all the secrecy about the site and time the site opens? Thie coul be fun... not!
11:21 pm
not to mention that the camping out was the best part of the whole bloody thing...
12:21 am
Another great Obama Idea!! I'm thrilled to have a chance to go to this event with my grandchildren without the "camping scene".
12:24 am
I am a true Obama Fan but this is terrible news. My friends and I camp out EVERy year for those tickets, and it has been a wonderful tradition for us. We have gone through great lengths to be first in line as a matter of fact. I never thought it was difficult for anyone to get a ticket, The process is very well known, and you have a whole year to plan, plan for a babysitter if needed so you could hang out with all of us die hard Egg Rollers. So long to the tradition. And just you everyone knows, it has been families from ALLLLL walks of life, we camped in sun, rain, snow and wind for those tickets, each year, EVERYONE WAS WELCOMED.
8:35 am
I'm glad it's being done this way. Being disable I can at least stand a chance to get my grandson to the roll before he turns 11. Now if I could just get thru online. I have been at it since 0001, trying to beat the crowd.
9:04 am
I've been at the secure checkout for almost 50 minutes. I'm going to have to give up soon. Just like Tamme, I've been up hitting my refresh button since 1200am. Congrats to all of those that were sucessful in getting tickets. My kids are 4 so I have 6 more times to try.
9:50 am
This is just going to give scalpers a chance to make money off of this event. I have been trying all morning to get tickets for us with no luck.
9:59 am
yep. no luck online here, either. of course, while waiting for the page that never loads, i have had the chance to read people's comments in the chicago sun-times. apparently, this is a move so that "regular" families have a chance at the tickets. funny. i always thought we were a regular family, just once that lives in the DC metro area.
yep. i think the scalpers will be the ones who win on this one.
10:09 am
I have to agree on the local angle and the computer issues. Like Sade, I would rahter stand out in the rain than go through this website. I have two computers going and I still cannot get anywhere with it. been at is for hours. I did get to the checkout page once, and I haven't been heard from or seen again. This sucks!
10:31 am
Go all the way, click the verification code, then booted off. Three times. no way is this open to the everyday people. for sure to be seen in re-sale outlets. I've got kids to take care of. I've been at it for 3 hours with teasers that look like it will go through. Stinky idea!! Was looking forward to having the chance to line up for this on our family vacation.
10:39 am
I have confirmation that one of my friends who lives in CT got 4 tickets. So the system actually spits out tickets, just not to us locals who would have actually attended.
10:48 am
I too have been having a very hard time getting through on the website. I am not going to give up yet because this is a very historic event. I walked to the National mall at 5am with my two children and hope to attend the Easter Egg Roll. I am going to keep my fingers crossed.
11:03 am
I Was able to register an account on the ticket site but no option to obtain actual tickets as of yet. And the site keeps getting hung up loading pages. Not sure on this scalpers/ craigslist folks may benefit the most forr this change.
"Tickets will be available at various times throughout the day. This is to allow as many people as possible to attend. If you are unable to order tickets at this time, please check back later.
Important! PrintPass tickets will be emailed April 6-8, 2009."
11:52 am
I have come close 8 times and only to be bumped off each time, even as far as "purchase tickets". Very frustrating! Been at it for 4 hours! :(
12:04 pm
I started at 8:00am eastern time on the dot. I got through to the pick a time page and then when I entered the validation code I got booted off. This happened several times. I haven't even gotten the pick a time page since 10:30am - I just get the "tickets are all gone" message. I am so disappointed. I have always wanted to attend and I thought this was my chance.
12:25 pm
I've been at this since midnight. Waking up all night to check the internet. Made it through to picking times but then I've been booted out a zillion times. Is it an inadequate system or overloaded?! So frustrating! I've been at it for almost 12 hours. Exhausted but will keep on trying. Hope it works. Good luck everyone.
12:36 pm
I have been trying to order tickets on-line to the White House Easter Egg roll without any luck. This is quite frustrating. How does one expect us to get tickets this way. I wanted tickets for my great nieces and nephews because they have never had an opportunity to get tickets to attend in the past.
12:45 pm
I started trying to get tickets for the Easter egg roll at 4:28am and the site wasn't up. I heard at 855am that the website was up I immediately went to site, so for one hour straight, I attempted to gain access to the website for which I was kicked out three time before finally getting in the site that showed varies times posted for which I locked again. By 10am the website stated no more tickets were available and to try back later for which I have and same statement is there. I knew this was going to happen with thousands of people trying to gain access to the same website. Someone definitely needs to review this process great idea/intention but technology wasn't able to support it.
1:01 pm
The website seems to have been ill prepared for the load, but you won't find me complaining. At least I have a chance this year to get tickets. You folks that have done this for years you should back off with the negative comments. Why not let others who haven't had the chance to experience this before have a turn. Personally I think they should only let folks who haven't done it before partake in the event.
I'll keep trying!!
1:33 pm
The web site is really terrible! First, I received a message "Chill...you are in the waiting room". As soon as I was able to select a time and the number of adults/children, I got booted off.
1:35 pm
I'm wondering if anyone got tickets after the 8:00am rush. The website states that tickets will be available throughout the day but the only time I saw them available was at 8:00am. I got all the way to the confirmation page before I was kicked off.
1:47 pm
I've been hit refresh 100 times with no luck! I think Obama has a great idea but the technology isn't great enough.
1:52 pm
I'm in San Diego, CA and started checking the White House site at midnight (east coast time). I checked all night and when the site was finally available I was able to connect one time only to be kicked off after selecting a time. I've already purchased airline tickets and thought the online process would be great for those of us traveling, but its almost 11 am in CA and the site is still saying try back later. I'm still hoping that it will work out. Good luck to everyone on getting tickets.
2:08 pm
So much for trying to get tickets on-line, on since 1201am, and three computers simultaneously loading up to site ordering tickets and than booted off. Trip planned and reserved since last year to do traditional camping out. Thats out the window! Will try to make the best of a long weekend with other activities. Plan to buy the 4 multi-color eggs of line thru national park services for 32.50 including shipping. LESS FRUSTRATION!
2:10 pm
I thought this was going to be a great idea. I tried at midnight, 2:00, 4:00 and when Channel 5 indicated at 6 that it still wasn't up, I decided to go to bed. I have been trying since 8:05 and was Chillin' in the Waiting Room to select a time to select the number of tickets to waiting and then getting a message (after 25 minutes) that tickets were unavailable. That's pretty much how it's been. I will keep trying!!!
2:14 pm
Camping out was a nice tradition we wanted to be part of - we waited all night last year and missed getting tickets by about 100 people - still had fun and we were planning on doing it again this year.
the online site is horrible - "chill..." - seriously? Did I wake up in 1990? and how appropriate is that any way coming off of the white house page? I think this company was way too small to handle the traffic and from their most recent message I think they were completely overwhelmed.
My question is - did they even consider the no shows? People camping on the ellipse 3 days before the event are more likely to be there then someone in idaho getting tickets 18 days out and later getting sticker shock on hotels and airfare.
This was so poorly thought out.
2:22 pm
has anyone seen any tickets after this mornings rush? I've been refreshing and checking and nothing is up after getting booted off this mornig
2:30 pm
I was able to select the tickets but it was crashed at check out!
2:59 pm
Site did open for a little bit around 2pm EST, it's closed now. The server was so bogged down, I feel I wasted my time!
3:02 pm
This is so said. I have been trying so hard to get these tickets and the website keeps crashing. I would have rather had my husband camp out and have fun making friends in line. This is too bad. I can not continue to wait and have the system continue to crash.
3:23 pm
So angry I got to the ticket part booted off booted off, and I have been online since 6am trying to get tickets, I think they should have limited the tickets to 3 and have military with id get theirs first. Its baloney trying for hours on end, maybe they should have people actually write a letter asking for tickets and do it like a lottery. That way everyone gets a chance.
3:30 pm
This is such a travesty. When I heard that it was going to be done on the web I knew that it would crash the web site time and time again. I mean, come on people, how many of us came to DC to see our new President sworn in. I have tried all day long and nothing. I give up.
4:17 pm
It was a frustrating process to have to wait but it does indeed work. I spend 6 straight hours clicking away trying to select a time slot..around 2:30 I finally was able to get the tickets!! Don't give up there is hope..it works. The way it's set up scalpers and craig listers will not be able to sell the tickets..so don't take that route..Good Luck to All!
5:14 pm
I too feel everyone's pain. I thought it was only my slow computer. I was so excited to allow my children to participate in this historic event and now I fear that they will not be able to. The hardest part is making to the end and then getting booted. It is disheartening to say the least. I am so disappointed but I can't give up. I have been at it since 8:00 am many others and keep making it through until I am booted. I almost cried but I guess, maybe this is to toughen us up a bit. Good luck to all and please...if you are someone who plans on reselling because you're really not going to attend, please don't do it to the thousands of families who truly want to participate! Good Luck to my fellow and persistent American Family!
5:17 pm
Just curious if anyone has seen tickets available since 2:30pm eastern time? That was the last time I was able to get to the "select a time" screen, even though it never went all the way through to completion. All I've gotten since 2:30 is the standard message page saying tickets will be available later...
5:34 pm
Earlier today, i had the chance to get the tickets and it timed out on me!! And i havent gotten anything since... i hae how they put it out at a random time... Oh Well. Skyy ur lucky and I hope i get the tickets. Good Luck to oyu all too!
5:44 pm
I've been trying since 8 a.m. I got as far as the page to order tickets, but it said all tickets were gone for that time slot - for every time slot.
I have never camped out, but I would have felt better sleeping out in the rain over this frustration. It was not well thought out. It would have been better to do it like Ticketmaster and just let them be gone when they're gone. I have no faith in this system.
6:26 pm
yeah ive been trying all day and still no more luck since the last time. I guess why obama did this is because of people who dont live in dc or ;live a far a =way from dc, but who would have the money to go to this if they are a far way? Seriously im getting ticked off..
7:03 pm
Mrs. Obama wants everyone to have a chance to come, nice thought, but why not just let the locals line up & set up online ticketing for non locals?? that way they dont have so many people trying to get tickets and the system crashing. Just trying to be solution oriented. This sucks I've really been looking forward to getting tickets since last year!
7:15 pm
I got tickets at about 9:20 am eastern, after trying and being booted several times for over an hour.
Sadly, I did not manage to get enough for both my husband AND myself to go with our daughter, because I just kept clicking different sets to see what would work.
We are in very southeastern Virginia ad we WILL be attending. People are not stupid; we understand hotels and travel will be involved to get to the event.
I wish the locals would stop whining about not being able to have their tacky privileged camp out on the Ellipse for tickets. This was a great idea to give a chance to people OTHER THAN those in the DC area. I am sick of reading about people who 'go every year' but sadly they didn't get tickets tis time. Oh well, life is rough. Other people in the US would like to attend as well.
7:23 pm
true. i live about an hour away, but this really is the only time ive had a chance to actually try and get tickets... were not camping out. it would be great to get the tickets, but if we dont, then too bad for us. its just one year. If the people who got the tickets every year dont get them this year, dont whine, if you want them so badly, then go buy them off a scalper. Weve never been to the eggg roll and so have others.
7:26 pm
has anyone gotten tickets over 3:00? i just want to know so i dont waste my time tonight.
7:32 pm
Tried tons of times and finally scored about 2.30 pm. Very excited--would never have been able to camp out with my three year old to get tickets in person. It was frustrating not being able to get through for so long, but definitely feel this is a fairer way to distribute tickets, allowing people outside the DC area and people who for a variety of reasons can't camp out to get tickets.
I wish all those still trying good luck.
7:43 pm
I am a local and I have NEVER been to this event and I would rather just get them on line than spend the night freezing, but like I said I was just throwing out some ideas, not that anybody would find them on this website. And please, if you live within 3 hours of DC you are considered a local compared to people in other parts of the US. This is a chance for other people not connected to the DC border to have a chance to attend.
7:44 pm
I just got 4 tickets about 5 minutes ago. I have been trying since midnight, so keep trying. Good Luck
7:44 pm
It came up for 3 minutes this time. They make you type in a code to verify now. Got so far to pick the amount of tickets this time, and for every selection was told that many tickets were not available. Even for 1 adult/1 child! This was on all time slots. I am too far away to camp out so thought that this year was my opportunity to go before my youngest is too old. Guess not. Don't think I can wait another five hours for the site to open again.
7:45 pm
they just ran out now. i was soo close i was on the ticket selection page, but they didnt have enough, and next thing you know, a page comes up and says that there are no more. oh well
7:46 pm
This sucks!!! Tickets are not available anymore, and just because I am local doesn't mean I will be here next year, so those haters who have something against locals bug off!
7:46 pm
when it says they ran out, does it mean ran out of tickets for the whole event or just that time period?
7:48 pm
No tickets at all are left. Congrats to those who managed! This is what is says now:
"Tickets are no longer available for the 2009 White House Easter Egg Roll. Thank you for visiting us and your interest in the event. Please understand that the demand far exceeds the capacity for this event. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Please continue to check this website for important updates regarding the Easter Egg Roll.
Children age ten and under, along with their families, are invited to attend. There must be at least one child ten years old or under and no more than two adults per group. Tickets are required for every attendee, including small children and infants, to enter the South Lawn of the White House. "
7:51 pm
darnit oh well theres always next year, well sorry to all with a 10 year old who didnt get tickets. I have a 6 year old daughter, so theres next year. Congrats to all who got in!
7:52 pm
Yea! I got tickets within minutes! It opened again at 7:30ish
10:51 pm
I was fortunate to be able to do this with my daughter when she was younger. Standing in line was half the fun. We met and made friends with all kinds of people from all over the country. It was not just open to those living in the DC area. Now there will be all kinds of people selling these tickets for a profit. oh well another tradition gone....
9:16 pm
I was also up at 6:00 am and like many other folks, was booted off just before confirming my order. The company was clearly unprepared for the demand and the system crashed several times.
I was on all day like the rest of the idiots. I understand the decision to scatter times and not post them, but it wasn't convenient and folks with dial up or slower connections never had a chance. I think a "two party system" may be the solution - half the tickets should be available on line and half for those folks who want to wait in line.
I'm not sure how the scalpers would be able to sell the tickets , since the system was set to send them to individual email accounts. But I'm sure if there is a demand, there will be a market (remember inauguration tickets were also sold).
I was lucky and got tickets during the last open time - around 7:30 pm and they were all gone by about 7:44 pm. Hopefully, the White House staff will review the system failures and return to the old system or adopt a new variation.
I also want to add that the hating on the inside the Beltway folks is unnecessary. Yes, I have enjoyed camping out for tickets and was amazed at how friendly the crowd was, the diversity, and preparation, and I will miss it. But, let's try to remember, this is about the kids and Easter.
Congratulations to those who were successful and good luck next year to everyone.