With Universal Orlando gathering steam for the opening of its Wizarding World of Harry Potter land at Islands of Adventure this spring — there was that Super Bowl ad, plus a stream of new tidbits leaked to hungry fans — one wonders: What does The Mouse have up its sleeve to do battle with the boy wizard? 

Not too much, as it happens. 

A recent press conference at Walt Disney World was touted as a Big Reveal, but in the end, the only big news — Parks-wise, at least — was that the Main Street Electrical Parade would finally be returning to the Magic Kingdom. 

The beloved ’70s-era spectacle, whose plucky soundtrack has become Americana itself, was wrongfully stripped from Florida and given to Disneyland’s California Adventure a few years back. But with that straggling park about to get its own state-of-the-art lagoon show (Disney’s Wonderful World of Color), the Electrical Parade has been permitted to return to the Sunshine State, upgraded with current technology.

What other weaponry from the Disney armory is being unleashed against the Harry Potter juggernaut? Well, there’s a new fireworks show. Also some minor new effects for Hollywood Studios’ Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Both are only announced as temporary, summer-only embellishments.

The big news, then, is that instead of building a new castle to compete against Harry Potter, Disney World is merely re-arranging the furniture. 

True, the Magic Kingdom is planning to expand Fantasyland to include a Little Mermaid ride (coming simultaneously to California Adventure, too) and will be doubling the capacity for the Dumbo ride, but that expansion doesn’t open until 2013, and the construction walls will go up around the time Harry Potter opens.  Even that expansion is tinged with cynicism, as it seems to be partly justified by adding more meet-and-greet sections for the brand’s lucrative Princess franchise.

Disney, which hasn’t had a major new just-for-the-fun-of-it attraction since opening Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom four years ago, is clearly in wait-and-see mode when it comes to its nearest competitor. 

Disney Parks already reported a two-percent profit decline for last quarter, and its lack of shiny new capital projects could be good news for travelers, who may see a slew of  discounts emerge, especially if Harry Potter manages to draw traffic away from Walt’s World.

Disney isn’t a competitor that goes quietly, so if they don’t have major openings in the pipeline, you can count on major coupons instead.

The lone blockbuster Disney has on tap right now: Giving a free day of admission to anyone who gives a day of volunteering. In the six weeks since the program was announced, Disney says, 600,000 have signed up for their free tickets. 

It’s a magnanimous gesture — Disney doesn’t have to give admission away if it doesn’t feel like it — but there’s something telling in the fact that Disney’s greatest public relations win of late has been the one that saves visitors a chunk of change.

(photo of Disney’s Animal Kingdom by David Landsel)