I thought I would add an update to this thread. A few weeks ago, I finally booked my airline tickets. I cant tell you how difficult it was for me to actually pick up the telephone and arrange that. In all my trips to WDW, I had never waited so long to make flight arrangements. I guess it just goes to show you how hesitant I was regarding this entire vacation.
Now dont feel too sorry for me. I took all the wonderful tips that I have learned here on the disABILITIES board and put them to good use. You will be proud of me.
At my last doctors appointment, she informed me that I will be in a removable cast right before my vacation begins. Yahoo!! I was so worried that I would still be in a fiberglass cast. When she gave me the good news, she was grinning from ear-to-ear (she knows how much I have been looking forward to floating in the swimming pool). She also said that my X-rays looked great; however, one of my bones has not healed completely yet (the one with all the screws). She didnt seem too concerned about that, so I am trying not to be concerned either (but its hard I have been trying to will my bones and tendons to heal at a super-human rate). She has also finally given me permission to put a little weight on my broken leg. She wants me to start out with only 2030 pounds of pressure in the first week, then move up to 40-50 pounds in the second week, followed by 60-70 pounds in the third week. After that third week, my cast will come off. I will still not be allowed to walk, but I will be allowed to try to put more weight on my leg. Since my vacation begins at that point, she told me to definitely take both my wheelchair and my walker with me. I had initially decided to leave my walker at home and only take my wheelchair, but now that I have permission to perform a little weight-bearing exercise, I will either have to ship my walker to my resort ahead of time, or see about renting one while I am there.
My doctor also mentioned that since Ill be in a removable cast, that should make things a little less stressful for me (she understands my concern regarding DVT). At my next appointment, I will get instructions regarding a few in-flight exercises to perform during my journey.
In order to get from the West Coast to the East Coast, I booked my flights such that I have more than two hours between connecting flights. I thought that amount of time would be perfect for me. If my first flight is running late, my second flight leaves late enough that I wont find myself racing my wheelchair madly through the airport in order to catch it. I also made sure that there were at least two other flights heading to MCO even later than my connecting flight. If for some reason I wound up actually missing my connecting flight, I should be able to catch another flight without too much trouble.
When I booked my airline tickets, I requested to be seated as close to the lavatory as possible. That would give me less distance to hop in-flight. And with over two hours between connecting flights, being the last person off the airplane shouldnt be a problem.
The airline noted in my reservation that I have mobility problems. They informed me that two days prior to my departure, someone would contact me in order to make final arrangements. Im pretty sure I will be checking my wheelchair as baggage, thus Ill be using their wheelchair service between the counter and the gate, and then again between connecting flights. If my one leg is up to the task, I will try to hop down the airplane aisle when I am allowed to board (the airline will have an aisle wheelchair available in the event that my sprained ankle is bothering me too much).
All that I have left to do now is to arrange my ground transportation in Orlando. Traveling with me will be my daughter and husband, so we will have three suitcases (and a carry-on bag or two) plus my wheelchair. I dont know if all that will fit in a towncar or limo, so I should probably arrange for a van cab or something roomy like that. I will check the Dis Transportation board to see who is currently a sponsor, and then I will contact them in order to see what they suggest for my situation. If any of you folks have any transportation suggestions for me, please send them my way.
I think thats about it for now. Again, thank you to everyone here on the disABILITIES board for all of your help. I have read most of the threads here and have learned so much. My trip should go well, and if by chance something crops up, I feel prepared to handle the situation.