The Potters belied their reputation as a long-ball team with a thrilling display of attacking football to set up a May 14 clash with Manchester City.
Matthew Etherington, Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones found the net in the first half and Jonathan Walters scored twice after the break against a Bolton side who simply fell to pieces.
Etherington seized on a loose ball, spotted an opportunity and whistled a shot into the bottom corner for the opener and Huth volleyed number two.
Jermaine Pennant was allowed to run the length of the field before teeing up Jones for the third to all but kill off Bolton before the interval.
Walters rammed home the fourth from 25 yards, and when the man who battled his way back through the lower leagues after being dumped by Bolton in 2004 drilled the fifth past Jussi Jaaskelainen nine minutes from time, it completed Stoke's perfect day.
Source: PA
Source: PA