Metropolitan Coach Lines president Jesse Haugh, left, Walt Disney and Mouseketeers with Disneyland Express, 1955.

This week in 1955, Metropolitan Coach Lines put its Snow White bus into service between downtown Los Angeles and Disneyland. As it pulled onto Main Street in front of Disneyland City Hall, it was greeted by Walt Disney, the Mouseketeers and a 16-piece band. Disney Studio artists had transformed the bus exterior and interior with a specially painted Snow White theme. Disney himself had requested the service, following Disneyland’s opening day on July 17, 1955. (Actor Ronald Reagan introduced 53-year-old Walt at the opening.) Downtown L.A. to Disneyland service has operated continuously ever since.

Flash forward to 2009 and Metro Express Line 460 makes the trip, dropping passengers off and picking them up at the Disneyland Main Gate. Catch the 460 bus in downtown LA or pick it up at the Metro Green Line Norwalk Station. From downtown, travel is a substantial two hours … providing more than ample opportunity for reading Snow White. But from Norwalk it’s 30 to 60 minutes. And the Norwalk Station has 2,000 free parking places.