Upgrading ticket to AP & parking fee

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

1. Can you upgrade a regular 1-day ticket to a preferred annual pass?
2. The preferred annual pass offers free parking after your first visit. If you paid for parking on your first visit with a regular 1-day ticket (then upgrade it to an AP), does that count as your "first visit" if you show your receipt, or will you be forced to pay a parking fee again after upgrading?

 

[HLAuburn]

For what it's worth...
When we got our FL resident APs, we purchased them online and my husband dropped me off close to the front entrance to go exchange them for the actual passes. We then drove to the parking deck and used the preferred pass to go in at no charge. The AP wasn't activated or anything like that - I just don't think they want people asking to be reimbursed for parking after the fact so they say it starts on your 2nd visit.

Not sure if that helps, but I thought I'd mention it.