Oh, Anna! This breaks my heart. I am sorry to say that I know first hand exactly what you are talking about. My own mom passed away just a few days before our big family trip to Walt Disney World, one she had been looking forward to taking with my teenage daughters.
The very first thing I can think of to help your guys over the sadness is to maybe plan a special
Behind the Scenes tour. My mom loved elephants, so when we visited on our trip without her, I booked
Caring for Giants at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Taking the kids up close and personal to these beautiful creatures was a great way for the kids to spend an hour immersed in something my mom would have loved so much, without it being something so sad that it put a cloud over the trip. Perhaps there is something your boys could do that will either act as an unexpected highlight of the trip or act as a sweet reminder of your mom instead of emphasizing her passing.
Another thing you can do is enjoy a special
dining experience. We went to my mom's favorite
Disney Springs restaurant, and my girls ordered the oyster sampler platter in her honor. Funny thing about that is that my kids don't eat oysters. It ended up being a hysterical tribute to their "Dram" to watch them try to get the oysters eaten.
I know this trip will be tough, but I encourage you to experience new things, enjoy the things you know your mom would have enjoyed, and help the boys make new and amazing memories.
Much love to all of you.
Anna