1. National Geographic

The long-lived official magazine of the National Geographic Society was first published in 1888 – thirty years before the first automobile. The National Geographic Society still exists (and in fact, is one of the largest educational non-profits in the world), but holds a minority 27% stake in the joint venture National Geographic Partners (a for-profit LLC that handles the magazine's publication, "NatGeo's'" television networks and brands, and the travel and tour division). 20th Century Fox controlled the other 73%, which was absorbed by Disney.

To be clear, National Geographic really ought to count as an acquisition in its own right – and largely, Disney seems to agree. (Think: Disney + Pixar + Marvel + Star Wars + National Geographic... Yep, a single 20th Century aquisition rising over The Muppets or ABC.) Really, it's a coup. NatGeo is an established, recognized, and esteemed brand. But more to the point, its bedrock of programming provides Disney with thousands and thousands of hours of documentary films and series. And that which competing brand Discovery Inc. spreads across a half-dozen networks (Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, History Channel, Food Network, Science Channel, and TLC) is comfortably collected in one via the National Geographic brand.

We've already seen Disney leverage the National Geographic brand on Disney+ with "The World According to Jeff Goldblum," "The Right Stuff," and "The Magic of Disney's Animal Kingdom." But obviously, this is a brand that Disney not only thinks complements its own, but that Disney branding can intermix with. Reportedly, Disney's own Disneynature banner is already shuffled under the NatGeo brand. To that end, it's a little surprising we haven't seen more of National Geographic across Disney's portfolios and parks. Obviously Animal Kingdom stands to be a major home for National Geographic branding (which would quickly elevate, for example, Rafiki's Planet Watch or even just the zoological signage along the Gorilla Falls and Jungle Trek animal trails). But if Disney knew then what they know now, it would make great sense for the Lost Legend: Soarin' and its successors to leverage National Geographic as a brand and as a filming partner...

2. AVATAR

If we're being honest, AVATAR occupies a unique place in 20th Century Fox history... and now, in Disney's. Technically the highest-grossing film of all time for a decade after its 2009 release (and only narrowly beat by Avengers: Endgame, which wasn't boosted by the same 3D ticket surcharge), AVATAR is – on paper – a landmark. But as just about anyone (except James Cameron) will also readily admit, that comes with an asterisk. Despite the film's absolutely astounding box office performance, AVATAR is largely remembered for how little anyone remembers it.

To be sure, that's in part because the film's gotta-see-it appeal was due to its computer generated graphics and being one of the first wide-release movies in modern 3D. But in the years after its exit from the box office, dozens of op-eds wondered aloud how the highest grossing film in history had curiously left so few footprints in pop culture... No beloved quotes; no memorable plot; no iconic scene. Try it: ask a friend if they can remember even a single character's name! But in the waning months around the opening of the Wizarding World, Disney reportedly got nervous. Sensing that Universal's licensing of Harry Potter might actually make a dent, Disney allegedly grabbed for something – anything! – Potter-sized, which was, of course... AVATAR.

Yes, Disney Imagineers skillfully brought PANDORA: The World of Avatar to life at Disney's Animal Kingdom (though arguably, their success is in spite of the movie, not because of it). Even still fans balked at the idea that now, Disney would have a permanent land themed to a movie they didn't even own – and more to the point, themed to a franchise whose course they'd have no say in directing! What would Disney say if Cameron's next entries in the series were R-rated war movies... or worse, if they bombed critically and commercially? As it turned out, Disney wouldn't be as helpless as we thought.

Disney's $71 billion purchase of Fox positioned Disney as the production company of Cameron's promised sequels (which have expanded in scope and timeline despite the public's pretty adament cry that we've really just moved on). Disney's acquisition of the brand at least allowed them to boost it. Currently, Avatar films are scheduled to occupy the highly-sought-after Christmas week release window on even numbered years from 2022 to 2028, alternating every year with a Star Wars movie. Will Disney be able to make people care about Avataragain? Like it or not, we'll soon see... And if so, maybe – just maybe! – Disney will be glad they secured the "international, exclusive" theme park rights to the franchise, expanding beyond its place in Orlando.

3. Percy Jackson

Author Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & The Olympians book series made its debut with Disney's Hyperion Publishing in 2005. The five-book young adult fantasy series (and the dozens and dozens of novels, comics, short stories, Greek myth compendiums, and spin-off series that occupy its universe) follows the young Percy Jackson who discovers he's a demi-god – born of his mother's short-lived marriage to Poseidon. Joining other demi-gods and mythical creatures at Camp Half Blood, Percy and his friends Annabeth and Grover set off on adventures and settle their parents' ancient scores. 

Yep, Percy Jackson is practically tailor-made to tackle Harry Potter... So how'd Disney let 20th Century Fox get ahold of the big screen rights? Probably because when the first book in the series, "The Lightning Thief," was published in 2005, Disney was already knee-deep in its own big screen fantasy series meant to match Potter: The Chronicles of Narnia. 

So it was 20th Century Fox that optioned Riordan's book series into a film series, first with 2010's Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and then 2013's Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. Despite a likeable and talented trio of actors vying to become the next Harry, Ron, and Hermione, Fox's two entries recieved mixed reviews and didn't meet expectations at the box office. (Similarly, Disney abandoned Narnia after two entries, ironically Fox picking up Narnia for a third.) Riordan himself was more explicit, stating that he'd never see the two films and that by script alone, they were the equivalent of "my life's work going through a meat grinder."

Obviously, he feels at least a little more warmly about Disney. After all, after Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox brought the film right to Percy Jackson back to the company, Riordan gleefully signed on to produce a Disney+ Original Series based on the books. Honestly, that sounds kind of great! Fox's film series petered out for much the same reason Disney's Narnia did: it was too obviously positioned as a Harry Potter duplicate created with the express intent of building a franchise. Even though Disney doesn't like to hear it, we trust that viewers can see through that charade in a second.

Hopefully, the Disney+ version is content being a little slower, cooler, and more mature. (Is it wild to want it to be Disney's equivalent to Netflix's "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina"?) While it seems unlikely that a Disney+ Original series could gain the cultural capital to find its way into Disney Parks, it's easy to see how the thrilling, mythological adventures of Jackson and his friends would be the perfect excuse to revive the never-built Possibilityland: Beastly Kingdom... But seeing the heroes of these stories become "official" Disney characters will be cool either way.