gregandkelly, don't know which airline you plan to fly, but we live right outside Nashville and have flown Southwest to MBJ past couple flights. Just checked fares for our dates the end of April and it is exactly the same cost if you fly from Nashville or direct out of Atlanta. However, none of the Southwest flights connect through Atlanta. We had good luck with the early flight out of Nashville connecting through Orlando; on my last flight, I booked the late flight from MBJ connecting through Houston (Hobby), and that worked out well, too.

Maybe you could do the park and fly deal near the Nashville airport? We have always hesitated about driving to Atlanta for a direct flight because of dreading the 4 hour drive back to Nashville.