The hosts opened the scoring inside two minutes and raced into a three-goal lead within another 20 minutes.
Ian Henderson, on his record-equalling 531st appearance for the club, pulled a goal back in the final ten minutes with a clinical header.
However, Vale added a fourth to kill off any hopes of a late comeback, although Charlie Tasker did net Dale’s second with the final kick of the game.
Ian Watson made one change from last weekend’s game against Accrington Stanley, with Zain Silcott-Duberry replacing Ed Francis in the middle of the park.
Dale got off to the worst possible start, when Onel Hernandez latched on to a knock-down inside the area and finished across Sam Waller into the far bottom corner.
That lead was doubled inside ten minutes, after the goalscorer was fouled inside the penalty area. George Byers stepped up and found the same bottom corner that Hernandez had eight minutes earlier.
Dale changed shape in response and created a chance for Dajaune Brown, from Cian Hayes’ pass, but the shot was well blocked by a Vale defender.
However, less than 60 seconds later, Vale added a third. Kyle Dempsey’s shot from range was saved by Waller, but straight into the path of Jordan Gabriel, who slotted home the rebound.
Connor Hall shot wide before Max Watters had a weak shot held and then headed inches over from close range, after a well-worked set-piece.
At the other end, Brown created a chance for himself, driving through the middle, but saw his low shot comfortably held.
Henderson was introduced at the break for a club record-equalling appearance, winning a free-kick just outside the Vale area within minutes of the restart. Fellow half-time substitute Francis hit the effort on target, seeing it beaten away by Marko Marosi.
Brown headed a Charlie Tasker cross inches wide, before sending a left-footed shot wide following a driving run forward, whilst Byers shot off target and Waller saved from Hall.
Henderson marked his landmark appearance with a goal, pulling Dale to within two late on, as he headed home Luke Hannant’s free-kick.
However, the hosts were able to restore the three-goal cushion three minutes later through Keyrol Figueroa.
Henderson headed another wide free-kick over the bar as the game entered added time, before Dale scored again deep into added time.
Brown then headed another free-kick on target, and despite a superb save from Marosi, Tasker was on hand to slam home the rebound with the final act of the game.
Port Vale XI | Marosi, Headley, Moon, Hall, Gabriel, Byers © (70’ Walters), Dempsey, Hernandez (54’ Lynch), Humphreys, Hall, Watters (54’ Figueroa).
Unused subs | Smith, John, McGowan, Asamoah.
Scorers | 2’ Hernandez, 11’ Byers, 22’ Gabriel, 87’ Figueroa.
Dale XI | Waller, Tasker, Wilson (72’ Beckwith), Hayes (46’ Hannant), Gilmour ©, Silcott-Duberry (46’ Francis), Adeeko (72’ Paterson), Sherring, Brown, Flint, Middleton (46’ Henderson).
Unused subs | Spaven, Leonard.
Scorers | 83’ Henderson, 90+4’ Tasker.
Attendance | 6,258 (474 away).
