We have booked a room at Comfort Suites and Atlantis in the past, most recently in January. Do a mock booking and see which is cheapest. When I checked for our last two trips, Atlantis was requiring a 2 night stay so that took them out of the running. Get off the ship as early as you can to beat crowds to resort and you won't have lines at the waterpark for the first few hours. We also order several Uncrustables from room service on ship the night before and ask that they not be thawed out, just leave them frozen and sealed, put them in our fridge overnight and then in our daypacks and they make great snacks/lunches for the kids if that appeals to you. We also have the cab driver stop at a liquor store and we pick up beer/beverages and throw them in our lined beach bag (you can get ice from your room steward on ship or buy some at store). A coke at Atlantis is around $10, fyi. My beach bag isn't really a cooler, but it's lined with heavy plastic, I guess for wet suits or something, so it works for a few hours as a "cooler" at Atlantis (bring a Yeti mug to pour your beverages into). No need to bring towels from the ship, you will get them at Atlantis. I have found a "beach locker" or Kyss bag to be very worthwhile at waterparks or beaches. Google them online. It's a way to store your valuables on your lounge chair while you're swimming without worry. We like to make "home base" near the "Baths" pool. It's a great pool and easy access to beach and water slides/rapid river. Walk through the "Dig"/aquarium on your way out of resort (or do it if it rains) and catch a cab outside Atlantis lobby, there will be several. We've always left an hour before all aboard time and made it back with plenty of time to spare, but ask your driver in the morning what time they recommend as there could be events causing extra traffic through town. This is how we do Atlantis to save money and get some extra time there. If you do Comfort Suites, you will have to stand in a line there to check in and then another one across the street in the Beach Towers lobby of Atlantis to get wrist bands (its a bit of a walk but not terrible), so if the room price directly thru Atlantis is comparable, book your room there. You can google a map of the property ahead of time to get your bearings, it's a huge resort. Have fun!
