I'm the OP. We did the zoo priority registration because I felt like it wasn't that much more, and you did get the free parking at the zoo. The Smithsonian premium membership was a lot more. I actually checked all the camps online yesterday afternoon to see if it looked like things were selling out and not a single one showed as sold out or wait listed -- if things looked bad, I was going to go ahead and get the premium membership. It turns out that was another epic fail of their website, because the email they sent out first thing this morning said that many camps were already sold out.
The zoo camp website was a WAY better experience. Maybe that IT person can school the Smithsonian IT person in advance of next year's camp registration.

We were also shut out. I asked someone there before the priority registration started, and she said the younger kids' camps often sell out quickly. Thought about paying the $300, but darn that's a lot for one week of camp, especially since I wasn't even sure DS would like it.

Same experience with the zoo camp -- the session we wanted sold out before it was even open to non-priority registration (and they said a couple of sessions even sold out within minutes of the priority registration opening). But, at least with the zoo, the priority access is only $120 (plus, you get free parking at the zoo and 10% off).

Same terrible registration experience. And by the time I was able to register (via phone @ 9:45 AM), the camps I wanted were already sold out. Yesterday. So if you are not a Member, there's little chance to get in. Guess I am forking over the $300 Associate fee next year.

Aaagh -- I'm the OP. 90 minutes of effort, and all three camps I was interested in are already sold out. Smithsonian, sadly, I have been a loyal member and camp purchaser for many years now (and have posted several good reviews on this website), but I think you've lost me this time. Blech.

It's been bad in years before, but this is totally ridiculous. I've been trying to get on the web registration page for 45 minutes and it either can't get on the page at all, or can't pull up the list of camps or even log me in. On hold now with the telephone operations for 15 minutes. I've done this camp for many, many years and every year grit my teeth about the problems with the website, but this is really just ridiculous. I'm so pissed because I stayed home from work this morning so I could be at my computer to do this. If I'd known the website wouldn't be functional until at least 10, I would have just gone to work. They really neeed a new IT person.