Lisa my experience is that a lot of it depends on hospital bureaucracy and what else is happening on Delivery Suite.
I went in on a Friday night and because of a previous late loss got permission for DH to stay with me in a private room after the gel. 1st thing was they said they don't do complicated cases like me overnight, they start them off next morning, so we both took up a private room in the hospital for absolutely no reason.
Then I had to wait the next day until Delivery Suite was quiet enough for me to come in and be started - turned out to be 4pm! (that was a lot of hanging round the hospital waiting for nothing. Staff from the unit would occasionally see us walking around and say oh not much longer, we'll be ready for you soon etc.) Then I had the gel and was monitored in case the gel had a sudden effect, then told to go and walk around to get things started. Walked two miles with period like pains, then came back for another monitor. Everything was fine, but gel didn't do much so they said I would have my waters broken, but would have to wait for a room to be available on delivery suite for that (gel was done in a little 4 bedded ward bit). They only did 1 or 2 gels IIRC so that would answer your question no. 2 - but different hospitals vary.
Stayed on the ward waiting for a room until about 1 in the morning. This was the worst bit, waiting to go as it was the recovery area for the C-Sections, and unfortunately the first one who came in had had a crash section and was very confused, lots of medical staff all being very nice to the new parents but pretty hellish for me in the next bed!
Waters broken about 1 in the morning - it wasn't painful but my god was there a lot of rummaging around in there - I think some people's waters are easy to break, but mine weren't.
With me she broke my waters and then went to get the drip straight away. I think it was because I wasn't really progressing and was desperate to get on with it. So I think the main reason they broke my waters was to check the liquor was clear (no meconium) and then they put the drip in. This was fine by me because I was very very nervous for baby and just wanted him out asap, but I'm sure you can ask for time to see if water breaking is enough to start labour off (it can be)
I have nothing really to compare to because I've only ever been induced, but I think the contractions came on pretty fast after that. They are fairly painful fairly quickly I think, in comparison to a natural labour. Investigate your pain relief options and know what you would want to ask for - and ask for it early if you want an epidural. (My epidural was fantastic - can recommend, but it's not everyone's choice)
Good luck