Like Loopylas and RunningMummy we were 6 hours away. Had all meetings condensed prior to matching panel which was in his town.
Introductions were 10 days (including 2 weekends) when he was 11m old. Stayed in a SC cottage his LA used often so site team were clued up on what we needed and we used that as a base - had mid review meeting there and ideally, if we were closer, they would have ended it but the distance meant we had to do all 10 days.
FC knew the local area well and gave us hints and tips of where to go with him and on our down time. They brought him down to us on the 2nd weekend, he stayed overnight, them in a hotel and FCs went back the following day. They were supposed to come back to check all ok but they said "after 20 years of doing this, we know when it's gone right, no point saying another goodbye and confusing him."
Although we knew what stuff he liked from the initial meeting we didn't take much in so bought lots of his stuff in the evenings on down time. FCs also told us things like food, lotion, baby powder, toys, bottles, dishes, cups etc as we went along, we also took photos of his cot so we could replicate. We then had an idea of how much stuff he would be bringing and what might be missing and asked lots of questions as we became more relaxed with the FC.
Notebook and pen each so someone is taking notes as the other is interacting, laptop and tether for phone (mine didn't work as cottage was in a ditch but hubby's did) iplayer, hub, Netflix, all4, amazon etc all downloaded prior to going, playing cards, books, mags, chargers just to make sure you have enough to keep you busy when tired but buzzing in the evenings. We did a download each evening so we both knew and agreed what was going on. We wrote out his routine so we had it pat for when we started on our own. Took lots of photos for his book and to send to everyone.
We were supported by the FCs all the way through and when you have a good one its really worth it as you're stepping into their place and everything they know and they have to step back to let you connect, ours made us a part of the family, inviting us to dinner and kept us laughing, we keep in touch a year on.
Routine started off with an hour after first milk and built up to breakfast then to include naps, then lunch and naps, followed by bathing and getting him dressed to full days.
Like you say, hard to know at that age how they develop and what their future holds but having taken the leap, we feel confident in how much we will fight for him to have the life he should.
Good luck, you will have an amazing experience when it happens.