Tag Archives: Florida

Fridays with Friends… Meet Rebecca Gonzales

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What is your name and where do you live?

My Name is Rebecca Gonzales; I live in Ft Walton Beach, FL.

Where did your love of Walt Disney World come from?

When I was very young my family started going to Disney.  I have so many great memories.  We would go two or three times a year and stay weeks at a time.  Disney has always brought me such happiness.

What is your favorite WDW Park Attraction and why?

Haunted Mansion.  I remember when I was five I would cry and cry when we would go on that ride because I was afraid of the ghost, but every time we got off I would cry because I really wanted to go back on it.  Riding it now just makes me feel happy!


Who is your favorite Disney Character?

I would have to say Snow White.

What is your favorite food on WDW Property?

Funnel Cake from Sleepy Hollow!! YUMMY!!

If you could work for Walt Disney World, what would be your dream job?

To be part of the Disney Imagineering team!  It would be awesome to create Disney magic.  


Do you collect anything Disney, and if so, what?

Yes, I collect Jim Shore’s Disney statues. I love them!

Do you stay on WDW Property, and if so, where?

Always! I have stayed at many resorts at Disney I have stayed at Disney Inn (which is now Shades of Green), in the very early 80’s we stayed at The Treehouse Villas, Polynesian (my fave), Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and also the Villas, and Pop.

 What is your favorite WDW Memory?

My favorite Disney Memory is when my hubby and I took my youngest for the first time, he was two, I was taking video of him and my oldest (5) and as soon as we walked onto Main St. I asked my youngest where he was and he said “I right here mommy” I said no Caden where are you? And he said “I right here mommy” and my oldest looked at me with the most lost look on his face and said “mommy you are recording him you know where his is”. My hubby and I laughed so hard.  I of course wanted him to say he was at Disney World. Now every time we walk onto Main St. we always say, Caden where are you?  He is now 13. 

If you won a million dollars that could only be used for WDW, what would you do with it?

I would buy a house at Disney’s Golden Oak. Oh how wonderful that would be!

Are you involved in any Disney Communities, Groups, or Websites? Which ones?

Yes, WDBoards, WDW4brits, D-Cot, The Magic of Disney, The Disney Addicts, Disney and Beyond, and of course The Relocated Tourist!

Anything else you would like us to know about you?

I am a mother of two wonderful boys, Marcus 17 and Caden 13.  I have been married 18 wonderful years to my hubby.  And like many of us, I am a HUGE Disney addict!

 

Interview with an E-Schooler

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As most of you know, our daughter, Emily left Celebration Grade School last year and joined E-School. Since I am not the student, my perception is much different of things than hers. So instead of listening to me ramble, I interviewed Emily tonight on what she thinks of how E-School is. Hope this helps those of you considering moving here and choosing it for your children’s educational needs.

What is the name of your E-School?

Osceola Virtual Secondary School (OVSS)

How many classes do you have?

Six total, Language Arts, Spanish, Science, Math, World Geography, and Art

Did you get to pick your classes?

I got to choose Art and Spanish, the rest I have to do.

What is your favorite class and why?

My favorite class is Science because they have a lot of fun topics and I get to learn how to do new experiments.

How many total hours of class does the school expect of you each week day?

They expect 8 hours total of class each day, but I do 7 hours from 9 a.m. to 3 :45 p.m.

What is your daily routine?

Usually I sleep in till 8:30, get up and have breakfast, get dressed, brush my teeth, and turn my computer on. I have 2 monitors so I can see everything, and a large desk area.

Who sets your schedule?

Mom and Dad made my schedule, and if I need more work on one class, I focus on only that class for the day.

What are the tools you need for E-School?

The cool thing is I don’t have to go buy school supplies, since everything is on my computer. I did however need a printer and a scanner for assignments, along with a good computer and a second monitor which helps when doing multiple things.

How do you send assignments or projects?

There is an assignment page where you get to submit your assignment and can see it there. Other ones are scanned and sent, so nothing is ever “hard mailed.”

Is it weird not having books?

Yes because I’m used to having heavy text books with me, but now it’s all online. At Celebration they didn’t have lockers, so I had to carry everything with me all the time.

Do you feel you are learning since there is no teacher in front of you?

I feel I am learning a lot more than in public school because I don’t have to worry about kids around me knowing and not knowing and being disruptive in class. I can focus on it because it’s just me.

Do you take breaks?

Yes I do, I take 5 minute breaks between classes and sometimes after a really hard assignment or project.

Do you have a lunch hour?

Yes, I take mine from 11:30-12:30 p.m. with Mom and Dad.

Do you get the chance to take field trips?

I haven’t yet, but in the future Mom plans on taking me to WDW and Sea World for a learning day.

If you have problems with school, how do you handle them?

I have a school email that I use to contact my teachers at any time, and once a month the teachers check in to see my progress and to let me know how I am doing.

How is this different from going to a regular school?

E-School is different because you get to be in the comfort of your home, and you can learn things at your own pace, whether it be quick or slow. Public school has kids and teachers to interact with, and with that you have to follow a set of rules where as home I just have to make sure I am getting my work done.  At home I don’t have to worry about being late to class or getting a hall pass to go the bathroom, I just go, and I can get a snack whenever I feel like it.

Do you miss interacting with people your own age?

I do miss it a little, my old friends playing with me at recess in WI, but in FL, even if I had friends, I didn’t have a chance to play with them that much anyways. But I have a neighbor girl who plays at my house, like I did with my old friends.

What about report cards?

On my home page for school, I can always see how I am doing. My percentage on my module, in my class, with my grade is always there along with my assignments completion list.

What about school pictures?

We get to get school pictures which is for our school ID only, but Mom’s going to take mine at Disney World this year for 6th grade.

Do you have Mom or Dad home, or would you prefer to be home alone to do it?

Mom and Dad home, Dad helps me a lot since he works from home

Would you do it again for next year and why?

I would like the opportunity because I have had a great time so far.

Do you recommend it for other kids?

I recommend it for kids who have had bullying experiences, who feel more comfortable at home in a safe environment. But, if you are a kid who likes school, who has a lot of friends, and does well in school it isn’t worth it to lose all your friends. I didn’t have any so I didn’t lose anything.

How did you get started on it?

Dad looked up Osceola County School District web site and called them. Mom and Dad took me to meet the Principal and sign up for my classes.

Back to Mom!

Thanks Emily! As you can see, Emily has given you lots to think about. As a parent’s point of view, you have to have a lot of patience to have your child home all the time. There is no space when they go off to school because home is school. It has been an adjustment for all of us, taking and picking Kyra up only from school, and watching Em at times start school in her nightgown. At the same time, I have a peace about it because she is home and safe. Having dealt with bully issues in a prior school, I was terrified of her having to deal with it again.  We will see, as much as I would like to see her in a Charter School next year, 7th and 8th grade were my hardest years, as well as Kyra’s.  We shall see what God has in store for us.

Please leave any questions or comments you have in the comment section below and we will do our best to answer them. I know school is a HUGE factor in relocating, and should be taken with the utmost seriousness. Any help we can give we are more than happy to help with. Enjoy your day!

My 1st FL Renaissance Experience…The Sarasota Medieval Faire

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One of the hardest things about leaving Wisconsin was that I was saying goodbye to my beloved Bristol Renaissance Faire for awhile. I had come to think of that place as a second home, and having familiar faces to see and hugs to have was a welcoming sight every single moment of the 8 summers I attended. Like everything in life, change can be difficult, but my hope was that for a new Faire I would find new friends, new experiences, and new opportunities. Here is my day at the Sarasota Medieval Faire- enjoy!

I had forgotten the time it takes to get into my garb- along with the early hours that go along with it. Ken and Anthony were picking Kyra and I up at 7 a.m., so that meant I had to get up at 5:30 to shower, prepare, and then get tied in. Yes, get tied in. If you know anything of the Renaissance world, tying yourself into your garb is all part of the process. I had such lovely people at Bristol to help me with it, so this time I had Craig help me do it. (He didn’t mind).  I hadn’t given much thought to how my back would handle all of this stress- I had been on the ground waiting for Richard Marx, then stars from Harry Potter, and then being wrapped up in a corset for 8 hours- a busy but very sore week!

We were picked up and with breakfast in the car, we headed to Sarasota with our friends. We arrived early enough so I had time to prepare my garb, myself mentally and enough time for a small prayer that my friends would enjoy what the day would bring. I knew what Bristol held, but this was so new to me that it made me extremely nervous. I couldn’t take them to my favorite shows, actors, or even pub because I had no clue like the rest of them- again- it made me nervous.

The opening show was a small band of minstrels, with the King, King Richard the 2nd, speaking to the crowd. Bristol had an older Queen, Sarasota had a 14 year old King- it couldn’t have been any more different from the start. BUT- he was hilarious. He was like a spoiled child, with no clue of how to rule a kingdom, so in that sense, he was my favorite character from the start. (Kyra’s too!)

My admission to the Faire was even sad, I had been getting cast tickets forever at Bristol, even free ones for my Birthday, and I almost chuckled that I had to pay $17.95 for Kyra and I, each.  Lady Visa and Lord Mastercard were not working, not the best thing for an opening day- so cash would have to do. This Faire DOES NOT allow pets, and I also noticed that they had no security measures of checking bags in the way in.

The theme this year, and this was their 5th year in production, was the Peasants Revolt. The Cast marched in, parade fashion, with the Royals first, and the mad mob behind them. They looked like a fun bunch, but I still kept expecting to see familiar faces for some reason. As we entered inside, we were met with smiles and “Good Days”- it made me smile to hear that. The biggest thing I loved about Bristol was hearing the many wonderful persons say time after time “Good Day.” I met a funny mute, who insisted on a picture, and some of the Royals who did actually talk to me. In Bristol, the Royals mostly kept their noses in the air and talked to no one.  The classes kept to themselves, and I didn’t see a whole lot of interaction with the crowd coming in. This surprised me, as when you enter Bristol, you are immediatedly involved in their world.

The four of us walked around to see everything first, to become familiar with the stages and areas. I smiled every time I saw something familiar- wax hands, garb for sale, and the varieties of handmade soaps.  Kyra’s staple in Bristol was always a giant pickle, so that was the first food item of the day. Speaking of food, they had a large variety of choices. Sonny’s BBQ is big down here, kind of like Famous Daves in WI, and because they were the sponsor, they of course had a booth. We grabbed pulled pork sandwiches there, along with a couple of Cokes at another booth for an early lunch.

Our first show of the day was the “Tortuga Twins”- now why this was a funny name was that the group consisted of three men, and neither of them looked like the other. A comedy show, they told the story of Robin Hood. But what makes these shows fun are audience participation moments… the ones in which my good friends, Ken and Anthony, hoped would never happen.  Then, as he looked around for his Robin Hood…I saw him pace behind the guys. I thought, “Oh NO” and BAM- he put the green hat on Ken and said “We have found our hero!”  Anthony, Kyra, and I were busting!!! Ken did such a nice job, and his “Tally ho” was spot on! We are so proud of you Ken, you did a great job.

Next was the human chess match, which was a neat thing to see because Bristol doesn’t have this at all. I’m thinking the reason they may not have it is because you need a very large cast to pull it off, with a lot of time to make a real move. Every time a person moved, they would fight. After about 4 moves, all war broke out and basically the peasants had enough. It was entertaining, but since I don’t know chess at all, I had no clue of what was going on.  I will say there bleachers are directly in the sun, so it can get quite hot on those silver seats. It was neat to see once, but we wound up leaving it early to head to jousting.

The jousting arena is basically more bleachers and a long pile of sand for the joust itself. Again, I was spoiled by Bristol, and I was hoping it would be this amazing event. We didn’t sit in the bleachers, but in the shade, so we could not hear a thing that was being said by the King near the arena. They had no microphones, so unless you were sitting very close to the King, you wouldn’t have heard much. We saw the horses and men compete, and the Knights were in full armor. They ran at each other a couple of times, and then it was over. Not really much of a theme to it, so to me, it was just ok.

Next we headed for more drinks and then to “Filthy Fairytales.” What I thought this was supposed to be was a muddy, witty show about fairytales. What it wound up being was two ladies trying too hard and just not quite making it to be anything worth watching. MANY people got up and left, including us, and I hope it was just first day jitters for them and not what that show was really meant to be.

Last but not least was to be the “Washing Well Wenches.” Now, this was a show I had seen before in Bristol- YAY! I had talked them up to the guys, so we were all pretty excited to see them.  The show was packed, and they started with their wet blanket “Mr. Wettums.” If you didn’t cheer loud enough, Mr. Wettums had to come out to play and basically get the audience wet- GENIUS!! Then they picked their first victim, I mean, person. Their whole shtick is picking out guys from the audience and explaining what courtly love is. As the first guy was on stage, the blond washer woman says “He touched my wet spot” and the audience laughs. She then starts to shake and her eyes roll up into the back of her head- again- we thought she was playing along with what she had just said. Then she fell backwards into the small wading pool behind her, trying to grab the volunteer in with her. Her partner looked in the pool to see that she was not coming back up, and indeed was not breathing. She screamed “This is not part of the show- HELP ME” and many rushed to help, including Anthony who is a nurse. It was a very scary moment to watch, and made me more sick to my stomach that we all laughed as she had a seizure. They called 911 and she was out of there about 15 minutes later- very hard moment to watch in general. I hope and pray she is doing ok, and that she knows that there are those of us out there that care.

After such an alarming moment, we tried to just walk it off and listened to a Celtic band. I had had enough in the garb- it was time to pull the string! I grabbed my real clothes out of Anthony’s vehicle and headed to the handicapped porta potty. Yes, I changed in a porta potty- not my proudest moment. But it was a moment of “If I don’t get out of this corset soon, I am going to scream.”  After I was back in my civilian clothes, and in a regular bra again, I was comfortable enough for the 2 hour ride home.

I felt it was a beautiful day, full of unexpected experiences. It was weird to see palm trees among the many tents, but It was that hard realization I was indeed not in Kansas anymore. It did make me renew my faith in heading back to Bristol for their 25th Anniversary this coming summer, and I so look forward to seeing those familiar faces of the Swordsmen, Craig of Farrington, Moonie, Jane, Fritz, and the rest of my friends. But until that reunion, I plan on heading to Tampa in February for their Renn Fest, which I hear is the biggest of the state. I will continue to keep looking for my Bristol here in FL, and I am happy I at least tried this one. Kyra, Anthony, and Ken had a great time, and I thank them all for enjoying the experience with me. On a side note… Kelly- I missed you the most yesterday, it is just isn’t the same with out my giggling best friend saying “Good Day” with me.