Hello Jennifer! Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! It looks like you are very close to that one special day at The Most Magical Place on Earth! You have come to the right place to help plan that day!
If your 5 and 8 year-old Jedis love rides, adventure, and Star Wars then you might want to consider spending that one-day at
Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will allow your boys to be completely immersed into the galaxy of Star Wars. However, before committing to this park for the day, you might want to check the height restrictions for your boys.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance requires riders to be 40 inches tall.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run requires rides to be 38 inches tall. Additionally,
Star Tours - The Adventure Continues, which is located in Disney's Hollywood Studios, but not in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, requires riders to be 40 inches tall. If your boys don't meet the height requirement for these attractions, but still want to experience the land and the roaming characters, you might consider a brief visit to the land and enjoy the rest of your day visiting other attractions such as
Toy Story Land also located within Disney's Hollywood Studios. Also, if your boys really want to get their fix of Star Wars, you can enroll them in
Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. My boys, who are now teenagers, still talk about this experience. Here your children will be trained in the ways of the Jedi and will test their new skills with an encounter against the Dark Side! There is no additional cost for this event, but your children must be registered in person. I recommend registering your children as soon as the park opens as time slots throughout the day fill quickly.
My second recommendation, and it is a very close second, would be to visit
Magic Kingdom Park for the day! While no Star Wars experiences, your family will experience the magic of Disney with many attractions suitable for children who are 5 and 8 years-old. With boys that age, I strongly recommend
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin! Don't worry, you control how much you actually spin! This is a family-friendly ride with a little built-in competition that everyone will enjoy. Also be sure to check-out
Pirates of the Caribbean,
The Haunted Mansion, and
Mickey's PhilharMagic.
Jennifer, the great news is that you have some choices! I hope this information has been helpful as you continue to plan your day at the Walt Disney World Resort!
Hakuna Matata! Jonathan G.