I just got back into WoW, and sadly haven’t been able to play very much because of the queue. I am aware of a free character transfer but how can I transfer my character if I can’t even get into the realm to access the shop? A shop option does not show on the character selection screens of other realms either.
Sounds like you have parental controls enabled. The shop you want is indeed accessed from the character select screen.
I never even setup parental controls how can that be?
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It can still happen actually. But just to be sure, you’re not seeing the link for the shop like in the image below:
Correct. I don’t have that button
It’s likely that Ekon is correct then. You might need to put in a ticket asking that the controls be removed (I had to do this at one point too despite never being a minor when I created the account).
You can put in a ticket using the link below. Just understand that tickets are taking longer than usual to be answered, but they should indeed be able to lend you a hand 
https://us.battle.net/support/en/help/product/wow/181/191/solution
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Will do, I am a little aggravated now because I never setup parental controls and have had this account for years. Purchased the expansion and game time and maybe have been able to play an hour at most.
It doesn’t look like you have Parental Controls set up on this account, Mikeg.
You won’t have a shop button on realms you don’t have any characters though.
You managed to log into the character selection screen for Area-52? And no shop button appears?
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Thanks for confirming that, I didn’t think I did. I’m not even able to get into Area-52. I was reading the post on the Free Character transfer and it says that if the realm is full to select a different realm and access the shop. Unless I really have to wait over an hour to be able to transfer my character…
I’m not sure if the option will be available but maybe create a character on a different realm? If the shop doesn’t show up unless you have a character on the realm, make a character on a realm and check?
So I was able to check on a realm I have another character on. I can access the shop but the transfer doesn’t appear to be free. I’m just bummed right now.
I think you’re mistaking the ability to choose a realm that has characters on it, with actually logging into a character. When you’re looking at the character selection screen, there’s an option to “Select Realm”. Choose that and then the realm you want to transfer from.
The list of your characters should populate right away. You don’t actually have to log into a character at all to initiate the service 
Hopefully the Shop option will show up for you!
Sorry, Mikeg. I was pretty sure it wouldn’t be available but it was worth a shot. The Free Character Move option is only available on realms t hat are currently considered high population. I don’t know if there was a way to activate it to be available in the shop through other means.
So am I stuck waiting in the queue before I can transfer? I’m confused.
When you click on “Select a Realm” in the character selection screen, then choose a realm, there’s zero queue as you’re not logging into a character.
You do not log into any characters at all to initiate this service.
My list of characters won’t populate at all. Im stuck on a queue screen and can select a different realm. When I do so, no Shop button is available. Checking another realm I made a character on the Shop button is there however the transfer is not free I am assuming due to this realm not being full. So looks like I have to wait over an hour to be able to transfer my character, and then wait for the transfer to go through. At this point I regret buying this expansion and a month of game time. I have had to WASTE more time trying to play.
Sorry, Mikeg. The transfer process itself should be relatively quick now since the option has been available for a little while. Unfortunately, it’s prime play time right now, otherwise this would go a bit quicker.
So sorry Mikeg, I didn’t realize that there was a queue when selecting that server to even see your character list. That’s totally my bad!! It’s been a very long time since I’ve been on a “Full” server and didn’t realize that’s where you were getting stuck.
My apologies!
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How do I go about a refund? I am not waiting 90+ minutes to transfer my character when I haven’t even been able to put 60 minutes into the game. I won’t be able to play tonight by the looks of things, so wasted game time. I just feel ripped off.
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There is a refund option through our ticket system.
I’m sorry if you feel ripped off, Mikeg. You are on a fairly high population realm, which comes with its own challenges because of that. The Character Move option should resolve the issue for you, but if you can’t wait through this queue this one time to initiate it, I’ll wish you well.