I agree with Princeton. My son works at the airport and gets a discount at the restaurants. After a few experiences he started packing his own. Not so much the quality but the prices.
NOPD has been making efforts to stop break-ins at parking lots. It seems to be working. Break-ins around the Superdome during Saints games had gotten out of hand. When I park anywhere downtown I leave my doors unlocked and glove compartment and center console open, so the thieves can see that there is nothing to take. No problems.
First day should be OK. Most of the day (seven hours or so) will be spent on the Mississippi, and there is cell service until you hit the Gulf, very late at night.
Another heads-up. I just read that there will be repairs going on to the I-10 bridge westbound over the Pearl River Bridge at the Mississippi-Louisiana state line, with the right lane closed. Probably not on a Sunday, but be prepared.
Timing sounds about right. There is construction going on with I-10 west from Mississippi just west of Gulfport. Probably not on Sunday, but look here to make sure:
www.wwltv.com
Click on "traffic."