I too was planning on using one over the 4th of July weekend. Oh well, you just lost a reservation.
Way to go Marriott... nice job in devaluing these even more. First we have the mile long exclusion list, and now blocking out a couple months worth of time when they aren't valid, including July 4th and Labor Day weekend.
Why even keep doing these? Just cancel the EEO program all together and be done with it instead of making it a joke and pissing off elites who actually try to use the thing.