Getting ready to book my first Dragon*Con and I have a question...

This is my first Dragon*Con and it's been seven years since my husband has been to one. He's suggesting that staying in Atlanta Sunday evening into Monday probably isn't worth it. He says that based on his experiences seven years ago, not much is going on Sunday afternoon. We live about 5.5 hours away and he'd want to leave around 3pm.

Has much changed in the last seven years? Do unexpected awesome things happen after 3pm on Sunday?

It's my first and I'm stupid excited. Don't want to miss anything!

EDIT: I see now that it runs Friday through Monday, not Thursday through Sunday ... How about I ask which are the best days to stay overnight when there's a 5.5 hour drive on either end?