In principle, you are correct. In practice, you are 180 degrees out. What happens is that an Executive Order is is immediately seized upon by the bureaucracy to create "Plans," "Programs," "Processes" ... which become codified in operating regulations. In a week, the concerned agency will be carrying them out. BATF, HSA, INS, etc.
Then, in order to halt the above, suit must be brought. It will be fought by the DOJ on behalf of the "defendants," the US Government.
Yes, Executive Orders do not have the force of law. It's much worse than that. They have inexorable bureaucratic power behind them, forcing those whose rights have been deprived into long, expensive litigation with absolutely no certain outcome.
Executive orders are a smoke-and-mirrors way for corrupt "leaders" like Obama to create new, PC powers for themselves.