I havent been to furrydelphia specifically, but ive been to a handful of furcons in the past. i was thinking of going to furrydelphia this year actually, so if things work out itd be cool if i ran into ya! im always looking for ppl to hang with at cons.
I would get tickets and book a room asap, like as soon as you are committed and have the funds, and prereg opens and the con's hotel block starts booking. I'd probably subscribe to the newsletter to keep an eye on that front. hotel rooms usually go FAST when the con's block opens for booking, because they get better prices. unsure the kind of rate they'll have at the time tho.
driving vs bus: philly is a very walkable city, so imo you'll be good without a car during the stay. if youre comfortable relying on a bus to and from, that'll probably save you a lot of money. buses vary in quality tho so ymmv.
con stuff: tbh I go to cons for the artists alley and dealers den. i love seeing peoples wares even if i dont buy anything. furcons have a lot of ppl taking commissions, a lot of kink gear, furry and pride apparel, all sorts of fun geeky and furry 3d art. theres a big overlap in gaming/ttrpg at furcons. also like most cons theres guests, panels, dances, etc. people host their own meets at the con and in rooms, most of which you'll find out from posters or word of mouth at the con, but im sure theres a reddit for the con for plans. lots of gaming meets, art meets, fursuiting meets, etc etc.
i couldnt give you names from personal experience but i know theres a wide variety of eateries in the area, and since the cheesesteak is famous, lots of meat options!! also I highly recommend bringing an electric kettle to heat water to make food in your room to save money, altho a lot of nicer rooms will have a kuerig-type machine to boil water. i know ramen is not the healthiest, but its a con staple food for a lot of people XD