I thought I’d post here to update it instead of starting a new thread. Stayed at the Marriott Desert Springs I and II last year and am now at the Westin Desert Willow.
The Westin has 4 pool areas, 2 with water slides. One of those 4 pool areas is a quiet pool and it is still a good size and someone comes around to take your order. The Desert springs has more pool areas but many are very small and no one takes your orders at the smaller ones. The pool loungers have nice cushioning on them at the Westin but not at the Marriott.
There is room service at the Westin but not at the Marriott. This is a big deal to me as the Marriott has no a food options once the pool food area closes, besides the little marketplace store, other than traipsing all the way to the Marriott hotel... this might not be as big a deal for you. In fairness to the Marriott, that marketplace store has more selection of food/groceries than the Westin marketplace.
The 1 bedroom is big at the Marriott compared to the Westin.
At the big pools at the desert springs where they do take your order there is louder music. There is no music at the smaller pools. At the quiet pool at the Westin it is more of a background relaxing sound for the music and other music at the other pools.
Desert springs has a nearby hotel facilities you can hang out at (for a fee or free depending on which day of the week and which desert springs villa - 1 or 2).
The Westin has more early bird specials on 4 different menus (well that’s counting the marketplace’s smoothies, so 3 with food options).
Marriott has a recliner on the patio. Westin doesn’t (just chairs and table)
The studio in Marriott’s villas 1 didn’t even have a water source from which u could fill up in the room, other than the bathroom sink.
All in, the resorts seem pretty equal but the room (1 bedroom and up) seems better at the Marriott due to its large size, while the Westin resort itself feels slightly more upscale other than the actual room size