Originally known as the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village, Downtown Disney first opened back in 1975. Starting out as a small cluster of shops and restaurants, the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village gave visitors a fun and relaxing way to go shopping for extra Disney merchandise. This also gave guests an extra (and free) place to visit on Disney property for those first and last days of their trip. So now after that long drive in the car (or flight from their home town), visitors could relax and enjoy the Disney atmosphere without burning a full day's admission for only a few hours in the parks. The shopping village also proved to be a popular final destination for tourists to spend their remaining money for souvenirs before heading back home. The Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village later changed names to the Disney Village Marketplace, and in 1989 Pleasure Island opened to the public. From 1989 through 2004, Pleasure Island was mainly operated as an adult's only environment, with admission required in the evening. Many of the shops and restaurants were still open during the day, but after dark the place became and 18 and up environment. Starting in 2004 Pleasure Island no longer charged general admission after dark, but an admission ticket is still required to enter the night clubs and dance halls.

In 1997 with the opening of the West Side, the entire shopping complex changed names again, this time to Downtown Disney. Downtown Disney was divided into three sections: Marketplace, Pleasure Island, and the West Side, with each section acting as its own and distinctly themed areas.

Pictured above, the volcano-themed Rainforest Cafe has become the unofficial symbol of the Marketplace at Downtown Disney.

Please click on a year listed on the menu (or on the maps listed below) to the left to be momentarily transported back in time to see how the shopping center was presented to the public. See how some of the shops and restaurants have changed over the years.

Additional guidemaps will be added over time.

Guidemaps:

- 1991 

- 1992 

- December of 1995

- June of 1996

- November 24 - January 4, 1997

- Summer of 1997

- December 22-28, 1997

- June 15-21, 1998 

- December 14-20, 1998 

- March 12-18, 2001 

- 2002 

- October of 2003 

- July of 2004 

- September of 2005 

- September of 2006

- July of 2007

- April of 2008

- October of 2008 - guidemap & entertainment guide

- March of 2009 

- July of 2009 - guidemap & entertainment guide

- December of 2009 - guidemap & entertainment guides

- November of 2010 - guidemap & entertainment guide

- February of 2011 - guidemap & entertainment guide

- June of 2011 - guidemap & entertainment guide

- October of 2011