Annual pass parking question

we are staying offsite this trip but we have annual passes for free parking at the parks. However, our old passes expired and we renewed them but we haven't been to quest services to pick them up yet. I'm just wondering if anyone knows how parking works if we pick up our tickets at guest services at Hollywood Studios. Do we pay for parking first then get our money back? Do we just lose out on the money?

Last year we happened to be at Downtown Disney first and picked up our passes so I'm not sure how it works going to a park first

Thanks for your help