You're not the only one. There's a serious disconnect between vendors, contractors, marketing, and creative that has been happening.
Compartmentalization and isolation between departments is higher than it has ever been. I understand the creative lead wanting to look good to their higher ups by coming under budget, but for god's sake couldn't someone have told marketing about the changes before they hyped up the storyline portion of the ride that wasnt even there? Now marketing looks like fools when they're some of the smartest guys in the business. Or maybe tell the vendors "hey, you know that custom software and you've been working on for 8 months? In the end won't be used" before they show up on site.
In the end it was pennies saved for a lessened experience, and it won't matter at all to higher ups because guest satisfaction will still be high. General public doesn't care.
This should have been the first big coaster with an actual story with a beginning, middle, an end, and a reason for the coaster portion.