Although it may seem the "suits" are not out, they are, except in Disney they are Business Casual. It may not be cutbacks you are seeing, but instead simply cast members calling off because of the Holiday. CMs are scheduled many many hours this time of year often times over 60 or 70 hours. I worked 80 hours in one week at easter one year. it was shifts I picked up. they have standards that they must keep certain amount of CMs on staff. only in busy times do they require more. it's when these busy times hit that it seems they are under staff, but it's simply that they cannot boost their staffing enough. It's a hard task staffing for the entertainment industry. Trends are hard to track, seasonality rarely mirrors previous years, and staffing is difficult when trying to staff attractions running at 18+ hour days. Between call-offs and Going home sick, it's almost impossible to keep the amount of CMs on staff you need to facilitate all breaks, and be able to make all guests happy.
Disney does it's best to staff the parks as well as it can. They beef up staff, they open up seasonal Attractions, place more food stands, work part time and seasonal CMs. Open up back stage walk ways. But it's simply impossible to keep up with the demand of over 70,000 guests in just one park. especially while preserving the magic and keeping it 100% safe. if an attraction is missing cast members, it's not due to cutbacks, it is due to call offs, breaks and other services that the CMs must get that we as guests simply do not want to see, or know about. But these are humans jast as you and I and they need breaks, food, and they even, yes I know this is TMI, but they even need to use the restroom once in a while. Believe me, they deserve every praise you can give them. They get yelled at for things beyond their control. For not accommodating the guests who think they are better then everyone else to wait in line, For not holding people on pedestals. THey try their best. but they can only do so much.
Don't store your passes near Credit Cards or Phones. I love asking the guests if they do, they tell me no then they pull their pass out of their wallet, which is in their purse next to their vibrating cell. It erases the magnetic strip on the passes and will only cause much disturbances later with the Fast Pass machines and other things. The frustrations over DDP have to do with people purchasing it, not reading it or doing their research or reservations. all the problems you are complaining about and "frustrations" are simply solved with some research and better planning. It's the busy season, and this is what happens. People are very smart but together we are no smarter than a heard of cattle. if you chose to move in the pack, then don't complain.
The friendliness of CMs goes back to Hours worked. I want to come to your place of work after you've been there for 9+ hours and see you smile and be curteous when you're getting yelled at for things out of your control.
If CM friendliness is going down compared to 10 years ago, think about this. 10 years ago, people where more conscious of others. TImes have changed. I was 4 years old my first trip to Disney, my brother was 2 1/2, No stroller. now we have 8 and 10 yr olds in them, and the parents when their kids have to walk. My parents when I was younger wouldn't take us near rides we where too short for, and guess what, we didn't know about them so we didn't cry cause we couldn't ride them. today parents yell at CMs about height limits placed for their children's safety. Everyone today thinks they are better than the next person. Fast pass has added more frustration, not on the guests part, but the CMs part where they have guests yelling at them from standby to let them go, yet the Fast Pass people have waited an hour or two for their ticket, and now waited another 20 in line. want it to be less frustrating? Don't complain about lines, if you don't want liines, go to the Bahamas, not an amusement park, if you don't like technology failing then go somewhere in Lancaster Pa. This is a service company that services over 70,000 guests in one day, not counting the other 3 parks. They have machines that run 20+ hours a day straight, and don't fail. CMs that work 15+ hours to make your magical vacation. and all you have to say is that your ticket didn't work, even though it may be your fault, there where lines and you're food wasn't 100% on par. then you should have asked for a manager there. not complain later when 90% of the people that go have little ot no problems.
If you go there and you have a bad attitude, you are only going to have a bad vacation. Smile, think about things before you complain, just imagine the sheer volume they are serving before you complain later. and if you complain it better fall on ears that can make it better. you don't even give them the chance to fix the problem, you take it in and you bad talk them later.
So those aren't cutbacks you see, but Simply a day in a Business where they can't predict demand 100%.
Personally I love the days they predict 60,000 and only about 40,000 show up. those are the best
