If you want to avoid the lines here are your choices:
1. Get their very early. This last week, we did all of IOA before 11 am, and did all we wanted with US by 3 pm the same day. Granted we have been to both every year so we knew what we wanted to ride, and not wanted to ride.
2. The best option is to stay at a Universal resort.. the room key is the best thing ever for getting past the lines (if you can afford it).
3. Express pass- never used it, but I believe it is more expensive for a one time use.
We will probably not do US or IOA next year, as this year we found that we were mostly bored with the same rides/shows.