December 16, 2011 - Tree Tops The List Of New York Holiday Favorites, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Yes, Virginia, Kids Should Believe In Santa, Voters Say Word format The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree tops the list when New York City voters describe their favorite things to see or do in the Big Apple during the holidays, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. At 16 percent, a visit to the world-famous tree ties visits to family and friends when New Yorkers tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll their favorite holiday activity. Seeing decorations and lights is third on the list with 11 percent. In fact, 58 percent of New York City voters say they plan to visit the Rockefeller Center Tree. With 63 percent, Queens has the biggest percentage of tree fans. Seventy percent of voters with kids in public school say they'll be stopping by. Turning to another New York tradition, 4 percent of voters plan to go to Times Square for New Year's Eve. New York City voters say 69 - 13 percent, including 69 - 11 percent of public school parents, that children should believe in Santa Claus. "New Yorkers aren't too cynical for Santa Claus," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "More than half of New Yorkers plan to visit the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Only 4 percent plan a New Year's Eve visit to Times Square, but the place will still be jammed with out-of-towners." From December 7 - 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,242 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 31. What is your favorite thing to do or see in New York City during the holiday season? Tot Decorations/Lights/ Displays/General 11% Fifth Avenue window displays 4 Rockefeller Center/ General 8 Tree (In Rock Cntr) 16 Skating (in Rock Ctnr) 2 Theater/General 2 Lincoln Center/Ballet/ Opera/Concerts/ Cultural events 1 Radio City Music Hall/ General 6 Madison Square Garden/ Ice Capades/Sports 1 Manhattan/General 1 Shopping 8 Restaurants 1 Museums/Metropolitan 1 Sightseeing/General 1 Central Park/Parks 1 St Patrick's Cathedral/ Churches 2 Visit friends & family/ Go to parties 16 Stay home/Relax/Do nothing 4 Enjoy the people/ Christmas spirit 1 Help others 1 OTHER 4 DK/NA 6 TREND: What is your favorite thing to do or see in New York City during the holiday season? Dec 15 Nov 26 Nov 17 Dec 2 Dec 4 2011 2008 2006 2003 2002 Decorations/Lights/ Displays/General 11 8 9 7 6 Fifth Avenue window displays 4 5 5 5 3 Rockefeller Center/ General 8 12 17 8 13 Tree (In Rock Ctnr) 16 15 16 19 15 Skating (in Rock Ctnr) 2 3 2 2 2 Theater/General 2 3 2 1 5 Christmas shows - - - 1 1 Lincoln Center/Ballet/ Opera/Concerts/ Cultural events 1 2 1 1 3 Radio City Music Hall/ General concerts 6 7 6 3 4 Parade/Macy's - 1 - 1 2 Madison Square Garden/ Ice Capades/Sports 1 1 - - 1 Manhattan/General 1 - - 1 3 Shopping 8 9 7 7 10 Restaurants 1 2 1 1 1 Museums/Metropolitan 1 2 1 1 2 Sightseeing/General 1 1 1 1 1 Times Square/42nd Street - - 1 1 1 Central Park/Parks 1 2 2 1 2 St Patrick's Cathedral/ Churches 2 1 1 3 1 Visit friends & family/ Go to parties 16 11 7 8 5 Stay home/Relax/Do nothing 4 - 2 2 2 Enjoy the people/ Christmas spirit 1 1 2 1 3 Help Others 1 - 1 1 - OTHER 4 4 6 10 6 DK/NA 6 7 8 13 7 32. Thinking about this holiday season, do you plan to spend more on gifts this year than last year, less on gifts or about the same as last year? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp More 12% 13% 10% 14% 14% 9% 11% 7% 16% Less 34 29 37 32 27 40 27 47 40 Same 52 58 51 50 56 48 60 44 40 DK/NA 2 - 2 4 3 2 2 1 4 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl <30K 30-50 50-100 >100 More 8% 9% 16% 12% 14% 5% 5% 17% 18% Less 42 34 31 36 27 45 41 30 24 Same 46 53 51 52 56 48 51 50 56 DK/NA 3 4 2 1 3 2 3 2 1 Union COLLEGE DEG HAVE KIDS.... AGE IN YEARS............ HsHlds No Yes <18 InPubSch 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ More 15% 10% 13% 14% 12% 18% 14% 9% 6% Less 32 37 32 44 50 31 37 35 32 Same 49 51 52 42 37 49 46 53 58 DK/NA 4 2 3 - - 2 2 2 4 TREND: Thinking about this holiday season, do you plan to spend more on gifts this year than last year, less on gifts or about the same as last year? Dec 15 Nov 26 Nov 17 Nov 26 2011 2008 2006 2003 More 12 4 14 11 Less 34 58 24 32 About the same 52 36 58 53 DK/NA 2 3 5 4 33. Do you plan to visit the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center during this holiday season? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 58% 60% 58% 59% 53% 63% 52% 57% 67% No 38 37 38 37 44 33 45 40 28 DK/NA 3 3 4 4 3 4 3 3 5 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl <30K 30-50 50-100 >100 Yes 56% 55% 60% 63% 56% 55% 61% 58% 64% No 39 41 38 35 37 42 33 39 33 DK/NA 5 4 2 2 6 3 6 3 3 Union COLLEGE DEG HAVE KIDS.... AGE IN YEARS............ HsHlds No Yes <18 InPubSch 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 57% 56% 60% 67% 70% 64% 66% 59% 45% No 38 40 37 31 29 32 31 36 52 DK/NA 5 4 3 2 1 4 3 4 3 34. Do you plan to go to Times Square on New Year's Eve this year? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 4% 1% 4% 5% 6% 3% 1% 6% 5% No 95 98 95 94 93 96 98 94 94 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl <30K 30-50 50-100 >100 Yes 3% 6% 3% 5% - 5% 3% 2% 6% No 95 94 96 93 100 94 92 98 94 DK/NA 2 1 1 2 - 1 4 - - Union COLLEGE DEG HAVE KIDS.... AGE IN YEARS............ HsHlds No Yes <18 InPubSch 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 3% 5% 3% 7% 9% 6% 6% 2% - No 96 93 96 92 90 92 92 97 99 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 - 1 35. Have you heard or read about the school teacher that told young children that there is no Santa Claus? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 46% 52% 45% 48% 46% 46% 48% 44% 50% No 52 46 53 51 52 52 50 55 48 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl <30K 30-50 50-100 >100 Yes 49% 44% 41% 49% 55% 37% 48% 52% 46% No 49 55 57 48 43 60 52 44 53 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 2 3 - 3 1 Union COLLEGE DEG HAVE KIDS.... AGE IN YEARS............ HsHlds No Yes <18 InPubSch 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 54% 46% 46% 47% 51% 33% 44% 55% 53% No 43 51 52 52 48 66 56 43 43 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 4 36. Do you think young children should believe in Santa Claus or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 69% 80% 67% 69% 63% 75% 68% 66% 80% No 13 9 13 14 17 9 11 20 7 DK/NA 18 12 20 17 20 16 21 14 13 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl <30K 30-50 50-100 >100 Yes 73% 63% 66% 75% 82% 73% 74% 65% 68% No 11 14 15 12 1 13 11 15 11 DK/NA 16 23 19 12 17 14 15 20 21 Union COLLEGE DEG HAVE KIDS.... AGE IN YEARS............ HsHlds No Yes <18 InPubSch 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 67% 76% 65% 69% 70% 69% 69% 70% 73% No 15 11 14 11 10 15 16 8 9 DK/NA 19 13 22 20 20 16 15 22 17 Demographic Summary
