Bobby Carpenter was the kind of the dad who built backyard swing sets by hand and assembled zip lines so his daughter could play.
“That’s how I show her my love. I want her to look back and and be like, ‘Wow. That’s how cool my dad was. I’m going to put him in a real nice nursing home.’ ” joked Carpenter, a handyman from North Carolina.
For the family trip to Walt Disney World, Carpenter decided, of course, for something over-the-top. No basic stroller here. He welded a princess carriage for his 4-year-old in 2014 when she outgrew her baby stroller. His creation was a bit rudimentary, but he created more prototypes, catching the attention of other tourists.
One of those curious bystanders happened to be George Gari, a Tampa-area businessman who introduced himself and later propositioned Carpenter to start a venture together.
In June, they began renting out a fleet of steel carriage strollers that cost up to $300 to use for the day. The company, Princess Carriage Rentals, is not affiliated with the theme park and is an independent vendor.
“If you ever want to be a celebrity, push this through Disney World,” Carpenter said. “When you walk in the park, it’s crazy. You can’t walk 10 feet without having a conversation.”
The most expensive package includes a red carpet as a family is picked up in a luxury car and a child is presented with a rose. The latest carriage features retractable leather seats, cupholders and lanterns for when the sun goes down.
“It looks all out of a fairytale,” Gari said.
The strollers became fodder online for Disney fans and parents, a mix of awe followed by shock over the price tag.
“When you look at the stroller you’re like, ‘OMG. I want this for my daughter,’ ” said Lou Mongello, who hosts WDW Radio podcast and has written about the parks. “When you look at the economics of what this will cost, ‘Wow, that’s a lot.’ ”
The likely customers may be people visiting the parks for the first time or celebrating a special occasion, he said.
The strollers sound expensive, but for those who want to make memories with their children, it’s priceless, Mongello said.
All the major theme parks near Orlando offer extras for parents who want to splurge on their children.
One package starts at $450, where a child can get a princess dress, tiara and makeover at a boutique inside Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle.
Universal Orlando Resorts offers children-friendly suites, such as a “Despicable Me” option at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel that costs $524 a night where children sleep on custom-designed missile beds against a Minions wall mural.
SeaWorld Orlando and Legoland Florida also offer special packages for children who want to get closer to the animals or create with a Lego master builder.
Tania Santangelo, a stay-at-home mom from Tampa, rented a carriage for her 7-year-old son and his 6-year-old best friend to celebrate a birthday.
She could pay a few hundred dollars a night to stay at a hotel at Disney, but it won’t leave a lasting memory, she said.
“But they’re going to remember riding around in a princess carriage,” she said. “I think it’s worth every single penny. … We’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Back in the shop in his backyard near Charlotte, N.C., Carpenter welds and pieces each carriage together, which takes at least a month and costs thousands of dollars, said his wife, Becky.
Carpenter finesses the pieces so they fit just right. He makes his own tools.
He lives for the moments of recognition, like when a young dad once glanced over at Carpenter pushing his daughter in one of his handmade carriages at Disney.
“Strong stroller game,” the stranger said.
Got a news tip? grusson@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5470; Twitter, @GabrielleRusson
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