Following along...and looking forward to your review. I will be on 09/03 solo as well, but my first time on the Getaway.
Looks like you live where I live so yeah, Delta is an issue. I normally fly in the day before and I would but the only flight I can make gets me there late evening and I wouldn't even be able to do minimal sight seeing on top of that NY hotel prices for a holiday weekend (even if I am paying with points!) makes that seem like such a waste of $$$. So I decided to do a 1-way rental and drive to NY. Should be there by 10AM. Car rental return is a couple of blocks from MCT. I will take a 1-way flight back LGA to CMH as there are no time constraints on my return.
I did check Amtrak and I don't have 15 - 18 hours to spare so that was not going to work. I'll be interested to hear what you end up doing for pre/post transport.