I'd suggest you call and ask, just so you have someone at DRI telling you how your specific situation works -- especially since your Thanksgiving vacation is only 45 days or so before next years maintenance fees are due.
They had our paperwork to us within two weeks of receiving a ticket number. That was in March or early April. We had Santa Fe already lined up for the end of July and called because we'd heard that people were losing reservations during the give backs, despite that fact that they were paid through the year. We were told "just send the paperwork back when you're ready" -- even though the documents said notarize and return within 30 days.
We got them notarized right after the 4th of July and carried them with us to Sedona and Santa Fe, then mailed them before we left Santa Fe on July 28th. We still haven't received official notice that our US collection points are gone, but they were gone off the reservation screen in two weeks, possibly less because I was watching my bank account for the checks to clear, not the website.