Just keep trying, I had the same problem Sassy. I just kept restarting client and eventually it loaded my characters - but the issue of worlds being full is still there. Got to love Labor Day, it has made every NA server full with afkers who won't log off.

SE should restart their servers once a day or so until they fix the problem. That way it kicks off all the afkers. Or add in an AFK kick system, they had an AFK kick system in CBTs...I don't know why they took it out for official release.