Don't they have at least two stage shows this year? The slider reindeer show (if it you count that as a stage show, but I would), and I want to say there may be two different shows on the Full Throttle stage. Not 100% about there being two shows on that stage, but there's certainly at least one.
And yes, walk around characters would be cheaper. They don't have to come in multiple times for rehearsals, have a choreographer, learn said choreography, pay music royalties, a stage has to be set up and equipped, lighting programmed, sound design, etc. Stage shows, even small ones, take a lot of behind the scenes work and time.
The theater near Scream/TC is still being used, but for special events (the cheer/dance competitions have moved there, for instance).