How to use free parking when not yet checked in?

[KatLight]

We have a reservation for Fort Wilderness for the evening of Nov 3 - 4. This is in the middle of a larger Disney trip with extended family. We had planned to be at MK on the 3rd starting bright and early, probably parking around 8am. As part of our reservation we should get free parking on that day... but we can't do online check in at 8am, can we, as someone else is still likely using our site at that time? If we're not checked in yet, does the system recognize that we have an upcoming reservation for that night and so that we still get free parking that morning? I'd rather not have to pay $20 for parking that day if I don't have to. This is a rather last-minute plan, and our very first trip to Disney, so I'm just trying to figure out how it all works.

Thanks!

 

[hiroMYhero]

When you complete online check-in, choose the earliest time which is 6:30a and all your data is activated at that time. The CMs at the parking plaza will see your reservation when they scan your MB and will wave you through.

 

[mgpan]

Be sure to take cash with you in to the parks. We did online check-in and went straight to the parks. The CM parking attendant glanced at the magic band and waved us through. The magic bands even go us in the tapstiles. However, when we went to pay for lunch, the system would not recognize them for payment. We had setup a credit card and pin through online check-in to no avail. Guest services at the park could not help us with the charging, only after we had the front desk at WL work on the issue could we charge to room using bands.