Lag to the maximum?

So, yesterday I had one disconnect and 3 ping timeouts in a row trying to access character selection screen...

This morning I'm having trouble just put my password in and see the PLAY button.

There's something really wrong with the connection to SE servers right now. Even Lodestone loads extremely slowly. I'm hoping I'm not the only one with this... I know some other people had that disconnection and 2-3 ping timeouts yesterday as well.

Steps:
First one:
1. Stand in Ul'dah
2. Get disconnected
3. Go FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUU at the ping timeouts trying to access character screen

Second one:
1. Open FFXIV client
2. Wait forever for the account name, password and token number thingie bars to come up
3. Set password and token thingie and wait even more forever for the play button appear
4. Wait and wait and wait and wait... Then go whine at technical support.
Edit: 5. Finally see the Play button... Pressing it makes it load even longer and doesn't open the true FFXIV client.
6. Well, after waiting nearly 10 minutes the FFXIV client finally popped up...

Date & Time:
23.12.2011 9.30-9.45 EET (GMT+2?)

Frequency:
First one only once. Second one I'm still suffering on 2nd try.

PC Manufacturer & Model Number:
Homebuilt Computer

Operating System:
Windows 7

Graphics Card:
Nvidia GTX 460

ISP:
DNA Welho

Type of Internet Connection:
Cable

Having the same problem, I try to login but it takes forever just for the buttons to appear. I also have problems loading the lodestone site.

Steps:
1. Open client
2. Wait ages for the play button to appear, press it
3. Wait again, press the button...
4. Nothing happens, just loading forever
5. Client pops up, I press Start
6. Error 13100

On the lodestone:
1. Open the site
2. Wait ages for the page to open

Date & Time:
23.12.2011 8.10-10.07 (GMT+1)

Frequency:
It has been happening for the past 2 hours.

PC Manufacturer & Model Number:
Homebuilt Computer

Operating System:
Windows 7 64 bit

Graphics Card:
ATI HD5700

ISP:
Fastweb

Type of Internet Connection:
ADSL 6mbit

I have the same problem since the latest patch it is annoying

Yeah this seems to be getting worse and happening everywhere now, I can't even craft because I'll probably lose mats.

Are there not more people having this issue? I hope it doesn't go unchecked because it's ruining the game on my end it's so bad now.