The "AquaRidge" area at the JW is very nice. We were just there, so, as you can imagine, there were a lot of kids (summer, school vacation), who appeared to be in absolute heaven, as evidenced by the smile on their face. If Marriott is smart, they target their product design, and subliminal marketing to these kids, who "pull on their parent's heart strings" to vacation at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge.
AqaRidge has several parts, there is the excellent lazy river, two water slides, and a private island-like retreat (Adult Only). The JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge has maxed out their "cash-grab capacity," at the AquaRidge/pool area, by converting a lot of poolside chase lounges, to private cabanas, and adding the private island, that have huge price tags/upcharge potential associated with them. The number of non-additional revenue generating chase lounges around the pool, have been dramatically reduced, and are in non-premium areas of the pool deck. However, it is hard to have anything but a great time, pool-side at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge.
If you are a guest at Canyon Villas, presently, Canyon Villas guests have access to the JW, Sunday to Thursday. The JW has the ability to otherwise "black-out" seven days a week, if they anticipate high demand, pool-side. There is no longer a shuttle between Canyon Villas and the JW, which, in my opinion, is disappointing, but, that could have been done to control the Canyon Villas foot traffic at the JW. If you want to visit the JW, and you are staying at Canyon Villas, you can walk (forget that when it's 115 degrees out), or you can self-park at the JW for $12.00 (for 12 hours).
Poolside food and beverages at the JW are very expensive, as are snacks from the hotel lobby Gift Shop. The only "affordable" venue is the Starbucks, in the lobby of the hotel. For example, two chicken ceasar salads, at the golf club restaurant, no beverages, nothing else, were $56.00 plus tax and gratuity. The JW does not allow you to bring food and beverage into the pool area, and they inspect your bags, as you enter the pool are, and confiscate your food.
