I was also there the same days you were, MrsDaly. The weekend was nuts. You can sometimes reserve a lanai room, I've caught it once.
Re: the fee, my only issue (aside from the general concern about resort fees) is it includes a $10 discount at Siren's Table, which no longer exists. I mentioned it to them so we'll see if that language gets updated. I'm not a fan of the new Mexican restaurant, but that's my own preferences not objective issue. It will probably change again in a year or so anyway as I think there have been 4-5 different restaurants in the time I've gone down there.
I had a corner room in the north tower and really loved that light for the rare moments I was in the room. Otherwise I was poolside, as always