By REBECCA SLOAN

By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Ride a roller coaster into the clouds, pat a dolphin's slippery bottlenose or make a cool splash into the blue waves of a 650,000-gallon pool.
You can do all of this and more weekends beginning Saturday at the new Six Flags Worlds of Adventure in Aurora.
Since purchasing SeaWorld Cleveland in February, Six Flags Worlds of Adventure has evolved into a 750-acre megapark that combines thrilling rides, wet and wild water amusement and an educational marine life complex all for one price.
Prices: Kim Stover, Six Flags Worlds of Adventure public relations manager, said that although the park has expanded, admission cost is only $3 more than it was last season.
"What you're getting is three parks in one. Everything is connected. Once visitors come through the gate, they can go anywhere in the park they want to for one price," Stover said.
Starting May 25, the park is open daily. Admission is $37.99 for adults and kids 48 inches or under get in half-price. Season passes are available at Giant Eagle for $49.99.
Attractions: Some of Six Flags newest and most anticipated attractions for the upcoming season include a new "gravity defying" roller coaster called X-Flight, where riders will "fly" through wicked twists and turns while lying in a horizontal position.
X-Flight will be completed by mid-May and will join the park's other cutting-edge coasters, including The Villain, Superman Ultimate Escape and Batman Knight Flight.
Also new at Six Flags is the Bat Man Thrill Spectacular water show, a good vs. evil battle staged on the former SeaWorld's waterfront boardwalk.
Although the show replaces SeaWorld's former water skiing show, it does not include water skiing. What it does feature is awesome boat stunts, fiery explosions and death-defying plunges from dangerous heights as Batman and Robin challenge the evil characters of Two-Face and the Riddler.
Something else that's new is an educational, upbeat marine show called Dolphin Quest, a program that strives to demonstrate the tender bond between animal and trainer through playful stunts and fun, informative commentary.
Dolphin Quest replaces SeaWorld's old Shamu show, but although the killer whales are gone, Stover said the educational, upbeat atmosphere of SeaWorld is still intact.
"After purchasing SeaWorld, there were some things that we had to get rid of because they were SeaWorld's trademarks. The most significant of these was probably the killer whales," Stover said, adding, "there are some changes, but not on a major scale. People will find the atmosphere is the same. Some things just have different names."
For example, SeaWorld's former Penguin Encounter is now Penguin Expedition, and the former Shark Encounter is now Shark Experience.
An all-new marine life experience created exclusively by Six Flags Worlds of Adventure is Sting Ray Bay. This 8-foot deep pool is home to about 25 California sting rays, and visitors can watch them "soar" through the crystal clear water like giant, underwater birds as they search for food or hover in shallow, sandy areas.
Water park: Park visitors who want to make a splash of their own can do so at Hurricane Harbor, the Six Flags Worlds of Adventure water park. The water park debuted last year and will once again serve up aquatic fun under the sun with its wave pool and water rides. Kids can return to Turtle Beach and Hook's Lagoon for wet adventures of their own.
Other park attractions that debuted last year, such as the Looney Tunes Boomtown theme park and the New Batman Thrill Spectacular stunt show, also await visitors who plan to return for another season of screaming good times.
Those who wish to spend a few days at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure can stay at the park's nearby hotel or at its spacious campgrounds.
XFor more information, call (330) 562-8303.