Steven,
The worldwide rollout version of the Notifications Tool does not check back with a MS server to see if it should turn itself off. Pilot program versions did. For more info on uninstalling pilot versions, installing the worldwide version, or for general info see this post: http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=510922&SiteID=25
The WGA function, which is different from the Notifications Tool, only comes into play when a computer logs onto Windows/Microsoft Update or MS Downloads. Since your computers will not do that until the next time you put them on the internet, you will not experience any WGA-related issues.
Product activation, which is different from WGA, is the same as it has been since 2001. PA checks its own internal database to make sure it is still installed on the same or reasonably similar collection of hardware. If not, you will be prompted to Activate, which can be done telephonically if there is no internet connection.