Last reviewed: May 24, 2026. Reflects Amusement Advantage operations as an attractions-only mystery shopping provider, its proprietary scheduling platform, current MSPA membership, and the firm’s reimbursement-based pay model.
Amusement Advantage is a mystery shopping company with one focus: fun. It works only with the attractions industry, sending mystery shoppers to theme parks, water parks, zoos, bowling alleys, and family entertainment centers. If your idea of a good assignment is a day at the amusement park instead of a fast-food drive-thru, this is your company.
The Colorado-based firm has served attractions since 1996, built by founders Scot and Christine Carson. It works with hundreds of clients and thousands of locations across the US and Canada, all in the entertainment and attractions space. Amusement Advantage calls itself the only mystery shopping provider working exclusively with this industry, and that focus shapes everything about shopping for them.
This Amusement Advantage review covers what the mystery shopping work really looks like. One honest truth up front: you shop here for the experience, not the paycheck. We walk through how the pay model works, what industries you’ll see, how scheduling runs, and who this company actually fits. Use it alongside our best mystery shopping companies guide to decide where it belongs in your rotation.
Amusement Advantage quick facts
- Operating since
- 1996 (celebrating 30 years in 2026)
- Founders
- Scot and Christine Carson
- Headquarters
- 12650 W. 64th Ave, #E-426, Arvada, CO 80004
- Coverage
- United States and Canada
- Specialty
- Attractions only — theme parks, water parks, zoos, entertainment centers
- Platform
- Proprietary in-house scheduling system
- Industry group
- MSPA member
- Pay model
- Reimbursement plus tickets; cash pay often small or none
- Payment timing
- 21–28 days via PayPal
- Best for
- Families, couples, and fans of attractions who want free outings
A Niche Built Around Fun
Most mystery shopping companies chase volume. They cover gas stations, banks, fast food, and retail because that work is everywhere. Amusement Advantage went the other way and built its whole business around places people visit for fun.
Scot and Christine Carson started the firm in 1996, pairing amusement-park management experience with mystery shopping know-how. Thirty years later, Amusement Advantage still works only with attractions. That long focus has earned it relationships with hundreds of clients and a stack of repeat Amusement Advantage business across the US and Canada.
For a shopper, that staying power signals stability. The company has had decades to refine how it briefs shoppers, schedules visits, and pays out. It also carries a strong mystery shopping reputation among shoppers, including back-to-back Shoppers’ Choice Awards in 2024 and 2025.
The Only Attractions-Industry Mystery Shopping Company
Amusement Advantage markets itself as the only mystery shopping provider working exclusively with the attractions industry. That focus is its core selling point, and it changes the kind of mystery shopping you do.
Instead of evaluating a drive-thru or a phone store, you spend your assignment at a zoo, a water park, or a bowling center. You move through the mystery shopping visit as a regular guest. You note the greeting at the gate, the cleanliness of the grounds, and the safety of the rides. You rate the service at the food counter. Then you write it all up.
What attractions-only means for shoppers
The upside is the experience. These are the mystery shopping trips people call “quality of life” assignments, because they really are fun. You bring your family or a friend on the mystery shopping trip, enjoy the venue, and get reimbursed for it. For a parent, a retiree, or a couple who already love these outings, that’s a real perk.
The catch is location and pay. Attractions cluster in certain areas, and the busy mystery shopping season is summer. The pay also leans heavily on reimbursement rather than cash, which we cover in detail below. This is the opposite of a high-volume firm that posts shops in every town year-round.
Industries Amusement Advantage Covers
Amusement Advantage offers mystery shopping across the full attractions and entertainment space. The mystery shopping assignments you’ll see include:
- Theme parks and amusement parks — full-day guest experience evaluations
- Water parks — service, safety, and cleanliness checks
- Zoos and aquariums — admissions, exhibits, and guest service
- Family entertainment centers — arcades, laser tag, and party venues
- Bowling and roller skating centers — front-desk and rental service
- Trampoline parks and go-kart tracks — safety briefings and staff conduct
- Museums and science centers — admissions and visitor experience
- Movie theaters and mini golf — ticketing, concessions, and upkeep
- Ski resorts, fairs, stadiums, and themed restaurants — seasonal and event venues
Most mystery shopping assignments are onsite guest experience shops. Some are restaurant-style evaluations at themed dining spots. Others are phone or online mystery shopping checks, like group sales and birthday party inquiries. The range keeps the mystery shopping work varied.
How to Sign Up for Amusement Advantage
Signing up for mystery shopping with Amusement Advantage is free and fast. The company says registration takes less than five minutes. Here’s how the process works:
- Go to the registration page. From amusementadvantage.com, open the Shoppers section and click to register as a contractor.
- Create your shopper profile. Enter your name, contact details, and home address. The company uses your location to match you with nearby mystery shopping assignments.
- List the areas you frequent. Add ZIP codes you visit or travel to. This opens up assignment alerts beyond your immediate neighborhood.
- Add a detailed writing sample. Write a sample evaluation of an entertainment or amusement venue. New shoppers live or die by this sample, so make it specific and well-written.
- Enter any MSPA certifications. List any MSPA certifications you hold. The company values them and they boost your scheduling odds.
- Accept the contractor agreement. Review and sign the terms. This makes you an independent contractor, then you can start requesting shops.
Basic Requirements
To shop for Amusement Advantage, you need to meet a few requirements. These are standard for legitimate mystery shopping companies:
- At least 18 years old and able to sign a binding contract
- Constant high-speed internet at home and a private email you check often
- The ability to print assignment documents
- A digital camera or camera phone, and a scanner or phone for uploading receipts
- Strong writing skills and the focus to track a long list of observation points
- A keen eye for detail and the discipline to meet tight deadlines
The company leans toward experienced, detail-oriented mystery shoppers because its reports are thorough. MSPA certification is not required, but it helps you stand out and get scheduled faster.
Pro tip: your writing sample is everything
For new shoppers, the writing sample in your profile carries the most weight. Amusement Advantage schedulers use it to judge whether you can handle a detailed report. Write a vivid, specific evaluation of a real attraction visit, and you’ll jump ahead of shoppers who left the field thin.
How Amusement Advantage Pays
Here’s where Amusement Advantage differs most from other firms. In its own words, because the shops are fun, many assignments offer little or no cash payment beyond the reimbursement of expenses. You are paid mostly in the mystery shopping experience and the free admission.
Amusement Advantage generally reimburses the costs needed to evaluate a venue for one or two people. That can cover parking, admission, food, merchandise, and game or attraction charges. Sometimes there’s a cash fee on top. Either way, the total pay and reimbursement is always listed on the assignment posting before you accept.
Some shops pay entirely in free tickets. You get a portion of the tickets before the visit and the rest afterward as return tickets. One quirk to know: many shops require you to buy at least one ticket at the gate, so you can evaluate the ticket-booth staff during a normal paying transaction. That cost falls inside the posted reimbursement.
Submit your mystery shopping results fast and you can earn a $5 early-return bonus for getting results in by 10 a.m. the morning after your visit. Miss deadlines and the math flips: late results can trigger a $5-per-day penalty, rising to $10–$20 and possible rejection. Payments arrive in 21 to 28 days via PayPal.
You get paid in fun, not cash
Be clear-eyed about this before you sign up. Amusement Advantage is not an income strategy. Many shops reimburse your costs and add free tickets, but little or no cash. The real payoff is a free or low-cost day out at places your family might visit anyway. If you want cash, look elsewhere. If you want free fun and enjoy detailed reports, this is a gem. For a broader look at the money, see our guide to how much secret shoppers actually make.
How Assignments and Scheduling Work
Amusement Advantage releases most new mystery shopping assignments on the first Friday of each month for the following month. Smart shoppers check the site that Friday, then keep checking daily through the next week as shops get scheduled.
You can request mystery shopping shops or self-assign them. New shoppers usually wait a day or more before they can self-assign, while veteran shoppers in good standing can grab shops as soon as they post. Request early, request often, and stay flexible on dates to improve your odds.
Once you’re offered a shop, you have 48 hours to confirm it on your shopper homepage. After your visit, results are due by 10 p.m. the next day. Amusement Advantage runs long rotation periods too, often three to six months and sometimes one to two years before the same shopper can return to a location.
That long rotation is worth a note. Unlike some firms that bar repeat visits entirely, Amusement Advantage does let you re-shop a venue, just not often. It’s a reminder that re-shop rules vary widely, so check each company’s policy as you build your mystery shopping routine.
Types of Amusement Advantage Shops
Amusement Advantage offers several kinds of mystery shopping work through its programs. The main types include:
- Onsite guest experience shops — The core work. You visit as a guest and evaluate service, cleanliness, safety, and loss prevention from arrival to exit.
- Group sales and birthday party shops — Phone, email, or online inquiries that test how a venue handles event and party bookings.
- Exit and intercept surveys — Brief guest interviews conducted on-site to gather feedback.
- Phone and online evaluations — Remote shops rating reservation lines and customer service, sometimes with recorded calls.
Onsite mystery shopping carries the fun factor and the bigger reimbursements. The phone and survey mystery shopping pays less but lets you earn without leaving home. Most assignments require detailed reports, so plan your time accordingly.
Working on the Amusement Advantage Platform
Amusement Advantage runs its own proprietary scheduling system rather than a shared industry platform like SASSIE or ShopMetrics. You handle everything from your shopper homepage: browsing open shops, requesting or self-assigning, confirming, entering results, and uploading receipts and photos.
Mystery shopping reports go in through an online evaluation form by the 10 p.m. next-day deadline. You upload receipts and any required photos with a camera or scanner. Amusement Advantage suggests drafting your narrative answers in a separate document first, then pasting them in, so you never lose your work.
Support is a real strength of this mystery shopping firm. The operations team offers email, phone, and live chat seven days a week, including evenings and holidays. Shoppers regularly describe the schedulers as responsive, helpful, and flexible, which is not a given in this industry.
MSPA Standing
Amusement Advantage is a member of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA), the main trade group for the industry. Membership means the mystery shopping firm follows the association’s code of professional standards and ethics.
Amusement Advantage also values MSPA shopper certification. Holding a certification is not required to register, but it’s noted in your profile and can greatly improve your odds of getting scheduled. If you plan to shop seriously, certification is worth the effort. Our MSPA certification guide walks through the options.
Decades in business, a clean MSPA standing, and strong shopper reviews put Amusement Advantage firmly among the established mystery shopping companies rather than the scams that borrow its name.
What Shoppers Say About Amusement Advantage
What shoppers often note
- Truly fun shops at theme parks, zoos, and entertainment venues
- Free or low-cost outings you can often share with family
- Excellent, responsive support by email, phone, and live chat
- Strong 30-year track record and back-to-back Shoppers’ Choice Awards
- Thousands of locations across the US and Canada
- A $20 referral bonus for bringing in new shoppers
Common concerns
- Low or no cash pay — you earn in tickets and reimbursement, not income
- You often must buy a ticket out of pocket, reimbursed within the posted total
- Tight next-day report deadlines with real late penalties
- Long rotation periods limit how often you can re-shop a favorite spot
- Popular shops fill fast, and new shoppers wait to self-assign
- Assignments cluster near attractions and peak in summer
Tips for Working With Amusement Advantage
A few habits separate shoppers who land the fun mystery shopping assignments from those who miss out:
- Make your writing sample shine. It’s the first thing schedulers judge. A detailed, vivid sample gets you scheduled faster.
- Get MSPA certified. Certification is noted in your profile and meaningfully improves your odds.
- Mark the first Friday. Most shops post then. Check that day and daily through the following week.
- Request early and stay flexible. Less popular days and quick requests both raise your chances.
- Chase the $5 bonus. Submit results by 10 a.m. the next morning, and never blow the 10 p.m. deadline.
- Keep family spending in check. Bring guests, but remember reimbursement caps at the posted total.
- Track your costs. This is contractor income, so log mileage and keep a simple business setup for tax time.
Scam alert: spotting fake Amusement Advantage offers
Amusement Advantage posts its own consumer warning about scammers using its name. Real assignments only come through your shopper homepage. Watch for these red flags:
- Checks before work. The real company never sends a check in advance. A check before any shop is a scam.
- Cold recruitment messages. Random texts or emails offering Amusement Advantage jobs are fake.
- Requests for money or gift cards. No legitimate shop asks you to wire money or buy gift cards.
- Pressure to act fast. Urgency from a stranger is a warning sign, not an opportunity.
If you get a suspicious message using the company’s name, report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Also read our guide to spotting mystery shopping scams.
Amusement Advantage Contact Information
| Company | Amusement Advantage, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Address | 12650 W. 64th Ave, #E-426, Arvada, CO 80004 |
| Phone | (800) 362-9946 (option 5 for urgent shop issues) |
| General email | generalinfo@amusementadvantage.com |
| Shopper support | shoppersupport@amusementadvantage.com and live chat |
| Website | amusementadvantage.com |
| Sign-up | Via the Shoppers › Registration page |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Amusement Advantage pay cash or just free tickets?
Both, but cash is limited. Many shops reimburse your expenses and add free tickets, with little or no cash fee on top. Some assignments pay only in tickets. The total pay and reimbursement is always listed on the posting, so you know the deal before you accept. Treat this company as a source of free outings, not income.
Is Amusement Advantage a legitimate mystery shopping company?
Yes. The firm has operated since 1996, is an MSPA member, and has won back-to-back Shoppers’ Choice Awards. It works with hundreds of real attractions across the US and Canada. Always register through the official site and never trust a check or job offer that arrives out of the blue.
How often can I shop the same attraction?
Not often. Amusement Advantage uses long rotation periods, usually three to six months and sometimes one to two years for a given location. You also can’t shop the same facility twice in one month. Other mystery shopping companies set different rules, so re-shop windows vary by firm.
Do I need experience to get assignments?
Not strictly, but it helps. New shoppers should add a detailed writing sample to stand out, since schedulers weigh it heavily. MSPA certification also improves your odds. Veteran shoppers in good standing get first pick through the self-assign system.
Can I bring my family on a shop?
Usually yes. Reimbursement often covers one or two people, and you’re generally welcome to bring more guests at your own cost. Some shops even require a second person. Just remember the posted reimbursement is the cap, so extra spending comes out of your pocket.
Deciding If Amusement Advantage Fits Your Setup
Amusement Advantage makes sense if you already love attractions and want to turn family outings into free or low-cost trips. You enjoy theme parks, zoos, or bowling nights as mystery shopping trips. You write well, hit deadlines, and don’t mind detailed reports. For that shopper, few companies are more enjoyable.
The trade-offs are clear. This is not income. The pay is mostly reimbursement and tickets, the mystery shopping deadlines are tight, and the best shops are competitive and seasonal. A shopper chasing real money will be frustrated here.
For most people, Amusement Advantage works best as a fun supplement to a cash-focused rotation. Pair it with general mystery shopping firms that pay actual fees, and treat Amusement Advantage as the company that funds your family’s next day at the park. Signing up is free and takes five minutes, so it costs little to see what posts near you. For more, browse our full mystery shopping company directory.