We didn't take the carriage ride , we did the hayride. I can't remember exactly what time it was but, we started the ride right after our meal at Hoop-de-doo so I'll guess it was about 9pm.
The ride was very relaxing and fun. Our driver told us some fun facts about Ft. Wilderness and its history. The grounds were quiet as we made our way through the trails and near the end we stopped at the beach for a few minutes to catch the end of the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom.
I'm not sure how similar the to rides are but, we really enjoyed it and it was worth the money!