We checked in on Sunday and leave tomorrow. We used D.C. Points to get a Gulf View room and have enjoyed our room and stay. Based on what we were told the units were updated last fall. It looks like it.
They opened the new lobby and 36 new units yesterday. The new entrance and lobby is a major upgrade. The old lobby area will be torn down. They had 14 guests/families check in yesterday and 5-6 today, so we were able to see one of the 3 BR units. It was on the 5th floor and was in the Lower Pool View area of the back building. We were very impressed with the view as it looked straight out to the gulf. Of course, the older buildings and the new side building blocked the view to the right side, but it was still a nice view. If I remember correctly, this View level is on the first 5-6 floors and higher floors will be classified as High Pool View. There will be units on the north side of the new side building and the lower level rooms there will be classified as Standard View. As our contact said, that View will be primarily for people who don't care about the View and just want to be at the resort and area. They will cost less points to reserve.
The unit we saw was very nice. Very much like the current units, but two things we noticed right away compared to our room were 1) no supporting column in the middle of the living room and dining room area, and 2) no column in the middle of the outside of the balcony. So, a much more open view in both areas. The balcony remains very spacious.
The new pool area will also be very nice with cascading water features/pools going from outside the lobby area down toward the current large pool, with the gulf water in the distance.
Overall, it appears that Marriott is doing a great job with the expansion. We were told the remaining 116 - 2 and 3 BR units will be available by the end of the year. They will also open the Upper Cascade Pool, Activities Center, state of the art Fitness Center, and a new restaurant named Pizza Cucina.
Best regards.
Mike