I think the comment about expecting scheduled maintencane and refurbs was for the parks themselves and not just this parade. I agree going off season means less entertainment and less rides open. I am not surprised abou the fireworks, I never though they would be able to pull off having them nightly. I know they do them during the school year for the holidays, but believe me they do hear about it from those that live near DL. They are loud. I can hear them every night. In fact I notice the nights when they don't have them because I don't hear them. As for Electric parade, I think it was a decision between showing block party bash or electric parade on the weekends. DL does not have a huge college program the way WDW has. Most of the CMs are local students, so when the off season hits it's harder to get the people in to work.
I'm not saying its not cost reduction. However they use these cost reduction tactics every year in the off season. Shorter hours, less rides and entertainment. For Snow White, I think it's because the numbers were not where they wanted them. For the parade, I'm sure it's because they have a different parade to take its place. As for fireworks, they are expensive to show nightly and they get many complaints. Disney has been trying for the past 5 years to do something about it, but with the noise and smoke of the fireworks, it's kind of hard to do much about it.