Built and Gingerbread House and the Elf Clubhouse back-to-back. Overall, my feeling is that the Gingerbread House is the superior build, both in the process of building, the end-result, and the overall value.
I like how the Gingerbread House had the chimney stack actually built into and integrated into the build of the main house. With the Elf Clubhouse, the chimney stack is built separately and just snapped onto the main house at the end. I also found the functions for the waffle dispenser and beds to wake up the elves unnecessary and gimmicky. The Elf Clubhouse was definitely more plain looking until the two strings up lights get put up.
The tree for the Elf Clubhouse is much more substantial and heavier than the one in the Gingerbread House but who buys a set for the tree? I also don't care too much about the extras like the little gifts and stuff, that's just noise and wouldn't change my opinion of the overall builds.
I felt $99 for the Gingerbread House was fair. It was an enjoyable build and very unique. I might be happier with the Elf Clubhouse if it were discounted some, even to $89 would have been better. I understand the set has a unique/exclusive Male Stag figure included which is more expensive to produce. 4 elf minifigures versus only the two Gingerbread minifigures.
What are your thoughts? As you look at the two, $99 for either one, which one seems to be better?