Q: how do i tell if my macbook pro has a dvd player?

Does it have a slot to insert a DVD? If so it can read DVDs.

Locate you model and then look at the specs

How to identify MacBook Pro models - Apple Support

Also you can enter the SN here:

http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/

BTW, this is the Mac Pro desktop forum

Every Mac that ever contained a "stock" DVD reader was equipped with one that could also read Dual-Layer DVDs.

DVD Reader-only were last issued in the beige G3 desktop Macs at the turn of the century. Everything since that has a slot for an Optical Disc is a CD/DVD Reader-Writer.

So if yours is a MacBook and has a slot for a CD/DVD, it has a DVD Reader-Writer.

check from inside with:

 menu > about this Mac > More Info > Report > Disc Burning