First visit - Express passes?

[freshstart19]

Hello! We are coming to Universal for the first time in late July before dropping off our DD to her 5 month Disney College Program. We won't do Disney Parks without Lightning Lanes. I've read about Express Lanes and it being included with some hotels but not others. We're only planning 3 days in the parks, 1 day each. I"m reading about crazy waits at Epic. I think it will be fun to stay at Hellios and walk right into Epic Universe, but then we'd have to pay for Express passes to 3 parks. Is the smarter option staying at a hotel that offers the unlimited express pass for the other parks. and then buying it for Epic? I don't see how we'd get a lot done with just 1 day in each park? Does any park need 2 days? DD has lost her interest in Harry Potter so we won't be doing anything affiliated with that franchise.

Thanks for your help!