2017: we LOVE this resort. Helen Kim is wonderful, Kendall is the best, as is the entire staff. We have been coming out to AZ since college at ASU (20 years ago!) and in the last several years we only stay here with the family.
The Marriott Canyon Villas are a gem for people with young kids. Our kids love this place & never get bored. They ask to come each year. Also, they have decent activities & optional water areas to make the visit more exciting for families. Security is good. Villas are very clean, well appointed, & centrally located close to the DR Marketplace. Having the JW amenities are nice, too. (Only black out dates are on major holidays - which are over crowded days at the JW anyway). Golf course rooms are our favorite...watching the quail and bunnies (and hearing the coyotes at night), make it the Gem of the Desert.
**2017: not sure why they suddenly installed lifeguard seats at the spas (?) (end of our stay), but the buttons for the chairs work so watch out for your kids playing in the chairs and turn off the electricity to the chair. Also the poles the lg chairs are hinged too are VERY rusty(?)...tetanus scary looking. Those need to be repaired.
**2016: The only issue we had was when we booked golf at this resort. They will not shuttle you to the golf clubhouse in a golf-cart if you miss the shuttle bus. We didn't find this acceptable & we've never experienced this before at any other resort in the world. We think this needs to change.