So before we left I started to read stories of HUGE crowds, of closing parks, of following touring plans and of getting frustrated. I read but I really didn't respect because I thought "oh well" or "whatever".
And at first I was stubborn. Very. "I'm not going to change. I'm going to do the same old - same old. Wake up late. Go whereever. Blah. Blah. Blah.
And then somewhere along the line I caught myself saying, "maybe you're being TOO stubborn".

A little rumbling in my head. Hmmm, maybe I should shut up and listen. And I gave in to some hints from ghosts of Christmas trips. Started to listen to the "all knowing" the ones who had walked before me. That is maturity people. Hard at times.
I had never done Christmas.
So I warned Jean.
She wasn't happy.
But I slowly warned her of the ways of the wicked

- ROPE DROPS.
Rope drops? Really? I'm going to go from years of barely making breakfast, rocking in chairs on porches, drinking, napping, swimming to rope drops. Really?
I did. She did. And we survived it. In fact, I created a monster for a while.
We did two.
And both were memorable.
Honestly, beyond memorable. I found them downright FASCINATING.
In fact, I would thoroughly enjoy "THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE ROPE DROPPERS 101". Thoroughly. I'm not joking.


You see Jean is fast. I'm not as quick as her. So the first one we went for TOY STORY MANIA fast passes to use at night. (Yes I'm aware you should go to rope drops to actually stay and do some rides - not just to grab one FP for the night and call it a day.

.
So when we got in she took off in the area I pointed to her and I JUST SAT.
Too bad they don't have rocking chairs there for me.
And no it wasn't boring. It was a very fascinating half an hour. VERY.
Everyone is SO different in their ways and strategies.
Some rope droppers RUN like the wind.
Some RDers get SO CONFUSED.
Some RDers go ahead and forget their families.
Some RDers argue and shout.

ARGUE. AT 7 AM.
Some RDers spin their maps until their heads spin.
Some RDers talk about strategy for so long that I worry for them getting ANY FPs.
And some RDers don't really understand why they came for the rope drop.
Why I've been avoiding such fascinating fun for so long is beyond me.
FUN!
She did it. She got us the golden ticket. Toy Story Mania. I haven't been. Don't make me go back to no parks story. AND I am beyond competitive.
I OWN BUZZ. Yes, I said OWN.
Four years ago I told these boys - nephews - "you're going down" on Buzz. "Hard". For weeks before we left.
Such bravado. Such attitude. GOING DOWN boys. And I did it. Took all three boys down. Big time. Killed them. And never let them forget it. So I'm not quietly competitive. So I was feeling Toy Story Mania.
So later that night we walked past hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of 120 minute

waiting people. WALKED RIGHT INTO THE CAR!!!!!!!!!!! There was no equalizing FP/regular people cut off near the end that night. WALKED RIGHT ONTO THE CAR. I was in shock. And so excited.
AND LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!! BEYOND LOVED IT andIlost. 
On the last screen.
Up next if I actually follow my own words: I've created a FP TSM monster!!!!