Brian Stock underlined his Premiership credentials with two goals and a masterful midfield performance as Port Vale were simply overwhelmed.
Stock was at the hub of every Bournemouth move and on another day they might have notched double figures.
John Spicer put Bournemouth ahead in the ninth minute, turning away from his marker to score with a right-foot shot.
There was an element of controversy about Stock's first goal after 39 minutes when his powerful shot was parried by Jonathan Brain who then dived backwards in a desperate attempt to stop the ball crossing the line.
Brain felt he had succeeded but the assistant referee, perfectly placed by the corner flag, had no hesitation in flagging for a goal.
Brain was booked for his heated protests but there was nothing Port Vale could do except limit the damage once Stock's goal had been allowed to stand.
Port Vale were still reeling when, in first-half injury time, Stock blasted home a perfect right-foot volley from the edge of the area which flew into the top corner of the net.
Bournemouth made certain in the 46th minute when a corner taken on the right found its way to full-back Warren Cummings whose fierce left-foot shot from the edge of the area gave Brain no chance.
Port Vale had plenty of chances earlier on with Craig James heading over an open goal in the 17th minute after a mistake by goalkeeper Neil Moss, while a long range shot from Marc Goodfellow flew narrowly wide from 30 yards.
In the second half with the match already lost, Moss made an outstanding save from Darryl McMahon.
But at the other end Bournemouth always look liable to score more goals and Wade Elliott, James Hayter and Derek Holmes all missed easy chances near the end.