Again, I think I differ with you on emphasis. Perhaps the tarps stand out to you because Disney does such a fine job with their ordinary detailing. I think it's also the title of your thread that makes me react. I think in general Disney does a superb job of 'thinking/doing' when it comes to refurbs.
Last summer DH and I went to a Great Wolf Lodge. It's a tad DIsney-esque kind of entertainment lodge with a built-in water park, and an little audiomatronic show for the kids, laser tag, plus another resort wide game that's like Disney's new Kimmunicator game) We had a good time, but it was no Disney. I was surprised that DH was the one to repeatedly point out how it was SO MUCH NOT Disney.
Let's see:
The pool/water park deck looked as though it hadn't been power washed all season, it was gross: black with grunge in places. At DIsney, you will see just about every patio and pool deck being cleaned every day - often late at night.
The detailing in the resort was crude in spots. Nearly every surface of WDW is usually painted perfectly, even out of the way places have detailing. This one had exposed bolts all down the hallway. Granted, they were going for a rustic look, but you don't see any exposed bolts at WL or AKL.
The animatronic show was seriously weak. Half the figures were broken in multiple places: mouths not moving, eyes not working. This is not al old resort. It is only a few years old at most.
The towels in the room were thin and scratchy. Granted, the resort entertainment was included in the price, and it was more elaborate than even BC's pool - but the price we paid was not far off from WDW deluxe room prices. These towels were not up to par with what you get at a Disney moderate.
I'm not at WDW right now, so maybe I'm not in as much of a position to commnet on what's actually there now, but I experienced enough to comment on general effort that WDW makes in relation to refurbs.
I've seen the kind of tarps you speak of before, and generally I am amazed that Disney goes to such lengths to make them look like what they cover. A few years ago, we had a good chuckle over the ones that covered the BWK hotel. Of course the 'skies' on the tarps were nice and blue, while the real ones one day were overcast.
Even the fence which covered the Yak and Yeti before it opened had fliers that were tacked up announcing that it was coming. I thought that was a neat touch.
Maybe tarp quality is one of the cutbacks.
My husband is not obsessed with Disney like I am, but whenever we are there, he does comment on how wonderfully clean and maintained the parks are. I'm always thrilled when I return and find everything just as perfect as it was the last time. Dreams do come true! 
