The sun put in a welcome appearance as kick-off approached, but the light quickly went dim for struggling Bury.
Ten minutes had gone when midfielder Dale Stephens inexplicably passed the ball to the Dons' Mark Wright, and he steadied himself before firing home low into the corner from 20 yards.
Minutes later Jordan Hadfield saw a fine shot saved by Bury keeper Jim Provett, before captain Keith Andrews fired well wide from all of 30 yards.
On 19 minutes Bury finally came to life, with Nicky Adams seeing a goal-bound shot blocked by Danny Swailes with goalkeeper Willy Gueret in no-man's land.
Gueret then saved Colin Woodthorpe's 25-yard drive, but defensive frailties were to again cost Bury midway through the first half.
Wright was allowed to get round the back of the defence and he crossed low for Lloyd Dyer to sweep the ball home from six yards.
Andrews was denied by a great Provett save a minute later, but the Dons did go three clear on 36 minutes.
Aaron Wilbraham played a great flick into Wright's path, and he made no mistake from ten yards.
Bury's Ben Futcher saw a shot cleared off the line by Swailes just before the break but five minutes after the restart the Dons almost went four up, only for Provett to dive full-length to keep out Dyer's fierce drive.
At the other end Gueret made fine saves from substitute Hurst and Paul Scott, but the Dons proceeded to go four up on 67 minutes when Wilbraham crossed and Wright slid in to tap home his third goal.
Andy Bishop struck a shot against the crossbar late on for Bury, but that was as good as it got for the hosts. Substitute Kevin Gallen made it five for the Dons on 80 minutes.