I wish they'd have said "We're going to refresh the screen when the app is ready, please don't close the app." I've been closing and reopening the app like a fiend since 11:59:00. Finally let it sit for about a minute when I went to go get my iPad and it JUST refreshed on its own and showed the "you're ready to upgrade" screen on its own. Nov 17-24, *sigh*, fine.
Naturally the site came up much earlier, but alas I'm on the iPhone Upgrade Program which apparently must be completed in the Apple Store app.
Second year in a row that IUP customers get the short end of the stick, thanks Apple.