We have reservations here for August 2nd at 1 pm and really only want to eat there if we can get patio seating. Is this something we can request in advance or is it simply a first come first service situation?
you're at least doing R&C for lunch- so you have a MUCH better chance of this request being granted. Dinner is a far different story. You can tell them at check in that you want to sit outside and are willing to wait. One other word of caution- Orlando in August is going to be warm and sunny- to put it mildly. In other words, you may want to call an audible come lunch time if it's a real scorcher outside. i.e. the cool relief of indoor dining in the a/c may be worth it. Having eaten inside and out at R&C, the interior seating does make you feel more like you're dining in the UK.
At 1:00 PM on August 2nd, you might really want an inside table, trust me. That patio can be very hot so if you really want the patio, I don't think you'll have any problems as most people will want air conditioning.